Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Health Of The House Committee On Veterans Affairs - Examination Of Va Regional Office Disability Claims Quality Review Methods -- Legislative Hearing On H.R. 949, H.R. 1075, H.R. 2698, H.R. 2699, H.R. 2879, H.R. 3926, H.R. 40

Statement

Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Health Of The House Committee On Veterans Affairs - Examination Of Va Regional Office Disability Claims Quality Review Methods -- Legislative Hearing On H.R. 949, H.R. 1075, H.R. 2698, H.R. 2699, H.R. 2879, H.R. 3926, H.R. 4006, H.R. 84, And 3 Discussion Drafts

Thank you Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you holding this legislative hearing today and I look forward to working with you and the rest of our esteemed colleagues on these important legislative subjects.

The ten bills being discussed this morning cover a wide array of veteran's issues and I look forward to learning more about them.

Of particular interest to me is H.R. 1075, the RECOVER Act, introduced by Mr. Scalise. H.R. 1075 would provide medical services to veterans in a disaster area by allowing the VA to contract with one of more non-VA facilities. Making sure our veterans have access to the very finest care is always the top priority of this Committee, but, - in times of real emergency - that priority takes on a whole new level of importance. Serving a district with facilities that are vulnerable to the sometimes destructive whims of nature - as I do in Charleston and along the coast of South Carolina - makes this a personal issue for me and I support Mr. Scalise in his efforts.

I am also excited to hear more about H.R. 84, the Veterans Timely Access to Care Act, introduced by my friend Ms. Brown-Waite. Among other provisions, this bill would make the standard for access to care for a veteran seeking primary care from the VA 30 days from the date the veteran contacts the Department.Ms. Brown-Waite has long been committed to making sure America's veterans do not have to endure long waiting periods before they can access VA care and I applaud her efforts.

To all of the witnesses appearing in front of us this morning -- thank you for your dedication to improving the lives of our veterans. Your work does not go unnoticed and I am eager for begin our discussion on the matters at hand.

It is only by working together to advance meaningful and appropriate legislation that we can completely fulfill the promise we made to provide veterans with the "best care anywhere." The men and women who served so bravely in uniform deserve nothing less.

Again -- thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.

Source