Congressman Engel Applauds Bipartisan VA Bill

Press Release

Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after The Veterans Access, Choice & Accountability Act of 2014, or H.R. 3230, passed the House:

"I was appalled by allegations that nearly 40 veterans died in Phoenix while waiting for care at a VA medical center, and that staffers tried to cover up those treatment delays. We have since learned that the problem wasn't limited to one facility, and that thousands of our heroes had been denied timely care.

"The Veterans Access, Choice & Accountability Act of 2014 directly addresses the need to reduce delays, by creating a pilot program that enables veterans who have waited at least 30 days for an appointment or who live more than 40 miles from a VA center to obtain care at another medical facility. This bill also allocates additional funding for the VA to hire more specialists and primary care physicians.

"We must do everything that we can to honor the men and women who served our nation. They should not be denied the very liberties they fought to protect. I am pleased the House passed this bill with bipartisan support."

The bill increases accountability and oversight by authorizing VA officials to fire or demote senior employees for poor performance or misconduct. It also requires an independent assessment of VA medical facilities, and establishes a Congressional Commission on Care to evaluate access to treatment throughout the VA health care system.

Additionally, the bill improves education benefits for veterans and dependents by requiring public colleges receiving G.I. Bill payments to provide in-state tuition to veterans and eligible dependents, and by providing full benefits to spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 11, 2001.

This bill is expected to be approved by the full Senate and signed into law by President Obama.

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