Hanabusa Joins House in Unanimously Passing Vets Healthcare Access Bill

Statement

U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the House voted unanimously to pass the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, which would allow any enrolled veteran to receive care at non-VA facilities if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility and a medical appointment is not available within the wait-time goals:

"The House is clearly united in wanting to quickly address the unacceptable situation at the VA and provide immediate health care options for our nation's veterans. I am proud to join my colleagues in providing for our veterans.

"This bill isn't perfect. I have serious doubts about some provisions, like the one that would eliminate incentives to hire doctors and nurses to help fix the VA's personnel issues. I will continue to urge my colleagues to look for long-term fixes that will provide for our veterans and build a stronger system overall. However, in the short term, I believe this is a necessary start to ensuring that our country fulfills its obligation care for those who have risked their lives to defend our freedoms."

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