Amata Informs Veterans Following Budget Hearing with Secretary McDonough

Statement

took part in a hearing examining President Biden's budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in which VA Secretary Denis McDonough testified. Amata asked about unavoidable missed appointments and other current local issues.

Amata asked, "Secretary McDonough, due to quarantine measures affecting access to off-island care the veterans in my district have had, what I feel, is more difficulty than most in securing medical appointments. As we adjust to the new normal of a post COVID world,

(1) does VA have any plans in place to address lapses in long-term/preventative care due to missed appointments and pandemic related scheduling issues?

(2) how widespread is the action of the VA canceling and rescheduling appointments without the agreement of the veteran or being offered community care options? Can this lead to the appearance of shorter wait times versus the actual real wait time a veteran is experiencing? What is the VA doing to fix this?

Secretary McDonough discussed efforts to be in contact with veterans, and said the log is a "major priority" and the VA is focused on wait times, which he called "a frustration to me personally for some time." He also referred to data at VA.gov/trust and expects fruits of these efforts over coming months.

The VA budget request of $301.4 billion is the largest ever by $21.9 billion or by 18.7 percent, and these funds would be on top of already appropriated American Rescue Plan funds. Ranking Member Mike Bost said, "Our job is also to make sure that the taxpayer dollars that VA is given are used to improve veterans' lives," noting these are increases are "massive."

The Committee also heard testimony from representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans.

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