Bipartisan, Bicameral Veterans Care Reform Passes House of Representatives

Press Release

Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved bipartisan and bicameral legislation to establish accountability and more timely care for veterans at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The compromise agreement is the result of the House-Senate conference committee created when the House passed the latest version of the reforms on June 18. The Senate is expected to follow the House in passing the agreement later this week.

The Veterans Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act addresses rampant problems in the VA affecting the health care of veterans nationwide. It will give any enrolled veteran the option to receive non-VA care at the department's expense if they cannot get an appointment within VA wait time goals, or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility. Eligible veterans will receive a Veterans Choice Card to facilitate care with non-VA providers.

It includes accountability measures, giving the VA Secretary direct authority to remove or demote senior executives when necessary by submitting a notice of removal along with a reason to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, and establishes a Congressional Commission on Care to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of the VA health care system.

"This reform addresses the entrenched bureaucracy at the VA which has led to unacceptable failures, and in the meantime allows veterans to receive the care they need at non-VA facilities when it is necessary," said Cramer.

In June Cramer held a meeting of his Veterans Advisory Board in Devils Lake to discuss issues affecting North Dakota veterans. The board includes Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient, Brenda Bergsrud, Veterans Coordinator and Benefits Specialist with the North Dakota Department of Veteran Affairs, Lt. Colonel Davina French, Government Affairs Officer for the North Dakota National Guard, John Hanson, VFW National Legislative Committee Member, Rusty Ouart, Purple Heart recipient, Warren Tobin, Department Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans, and Lonnie Wangen, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the State of North Dakota.

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