Senator McConnell Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Help Protect America's Veterans

Press Release

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell applauded Senate passage of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 in response to the Obama administration's veterans' healthcare scandal. The measure passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and will now be sent to the White House for enactment.

"I am very pleased both parties in Congress joined together to pass this legislation in an effort to fix the administration's VA crisis. This scandal is a national disgrace as thousands of veterans have waited for months to receive VA care, some died before they received the medical attention they deserved and were promised," Senator McConnell said. "I was proud to support this legislation that will increase patient choice for veterans and introduce some much-needed accountability into the VA."

The legislation provides access to outside, private health care for veterans in the VA system who are unable to receive a VA appointment within 30 days and for those living over 40 miles from of the nearest VA medical facility. It also provides additional authority to fire VA bureaucrats for performance failures and it funds the hiring of new VA doctors and nurses in an effort to reduce appointment wait times.

"As I personally reiterated to VA Secretary Bob McDonald before his confirmation, a dramatic change in culture at the VA is critical to correcting the department's failures and to better serving our veterans," Senator McConnell said. "I hope Secretary McDonald proves to be a capable leader and manager who will move swiftly to implement these vital changes. With this new legislation, Congress has certainly given him and the president the authority to act."

Carl Kaelin, Vice Chairman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Committee, said, "Kentucky's veterans have no better friend than Senator McConnell. We are very appreciative of his dedicated leadership on behalf of America's veterans and of his commitment to ensuring passage of this vital legislation."

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