Lujan Grisham Applauds Passage of VA Reform

Statement

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) issued the following statement after the House passed a much needed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care reform bill.

"I'm glad to see that we were able to pass reform legislation for the Department of Veterans Affairs, especially when many veterans have had to wait months for care. This agreement increases access to much-need private care, shortening wait times and helping those veterans who live in rural and frontier areas. Additionally, it strengthens the Secretary's ability to hold VA administrators accountable for their management of these facilities. Although it will not solve all of the VA's woes, it is a step in the right direction."

The $17 billion proposal includes $10 billion in emergency spending to make it easier for veterans to obtain outside care if they cannot get prompt care at a VA hospital. It also includes additional funding to hire more medical staff and lease 27 new clinics across the country. The Secretary of the VA will now have broad new authority to fire or demote senior executives accused of mismanagement while still streamlining appeals rights for these employees.

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