Cassidy Meets With Veterans on How to Fix the VA

Statement

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy hosted a veterans' roundtable with representatives of service organizations and other veterans throughout the Sixth District of Louisiana.

Dr. Cassidy discussed with them the problems affecting veterans seeking care through the VA, including wait times, patient evaluations, treatment for those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and how veterans are treated at local clinics. He offered the following statement:

"Our veterans deserve the best healthcare. Today's meeting allowed those who are actually using the system to relate their experiences. They spoke of nurses and doctors who do care and bureaucratic systems and paperwork which delay or effectively deny access to care. As a Doctor and a Congressman, this is of particular importance to me. I will do my best to improve these systems for all veterans."

Attendees from the meeting also offered the following statements:

"As the proud parents of a Navy seaman, I want to thank Dr. Cassidy for caring about how he will be treated when he comes home. I urge Congress to work with Dr. Cassidy in fixing the problems that exist at the VA." -- Denise and "Buddy" Amoroso, Members, Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana

"As someone who has sought treatment from the VA for many years, I want change in the VA for myself and for all veterans. I appreciate Dr. Cassidy meeting with me and other veterans today, and I urge Congress to make meaningful changes at the VA." -- HMC Royce Hempell, USN (Ret.), Trustee, Baton Rouge Chapter, Military Order of the Purple Heart

"As the past Baton Rouge Commander of the Military Officers Association of America, I want to thank Dr. Cassidy for meeting with us, and I will continue to advocate for our veterans. We hope to see change in the VA, to see Tri-Care preserved and to help our veterans in any way possible." -- COL Jerald Juneau, USA (Ret.), Past Commander, Baton Rouge Chapter, Military Officers Association of America

"On behalf of veterans in Livingston Parish, I want to thank Dr. Cassidy for the opportunity to share our concerns about the VA system. Our veterans deserve VA hospitals that provide quality healthcare. I know that Dr. Cassidy will continue to work on our behalf for that." -- Mr. Lynn King, President, Livingston Parish Veterans' Association

"The issues facing our veterans in the Central area are serious, and I want to thank Dr. Cassidy for giving his attention to them. I hope that we can find solutions that will help our veterans." -- Mr. Gerald Reid, Chairman, Central Veterans Helping Veterans

Additionally, the following service organizations had members at the meeting:

Blue Star Mothers of America
Central Veterans Helping Veterans
Livingston Parish Veterans Association
Military Officers Association of America
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Veterans United for Justice
Women Veterans of Louisiana

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