Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3230, Veterans Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014
Floor Speech
Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California (Mr. Peters) for offering this motion to instruct and for his leadership and work on behalf of veteran and military families.
This motion urges House conferees to accept language in the Senate bill that ensures post-9/11 veterans receive instate tuition at colleges and universities, regardless of their home State. This concept was overwhelmingly supported by the House of Representatives when it passed the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act in February.
I am a cosponsor of the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act, authored by Chairman Miller, and I appreciate his bipartisan leadership and dedication to improving opportunities for veterans. Tuition fairness gives our veterans a better chance to achieve the American Dream.
In April of 2011, as a State senator, I authored and led the effort to pass this same law in Arizona. I am proud to now be a part of the national effort to make college more affordable for our veterans.
As David Lucier, president of the Arizona Veterans and Military Leadership Alliance, said:
This is an opportunity to create the `next greatest generation' by investing in our veterans as they move out of uniform--to being scholars--to becoming national and global leaders.
I couldn't agree more. Acting on tuition fairness is the right thing to do. Acting on a VA reform bill is also the right thing for Congress to do. But in Arizona, we are not waiting for Congress to act. We are making sure that veterans receive the care they need right now.
In Phoenix, we recently cohosted the Veterans First Clinic, which brought together community providers, the Phoenix VA, and over 20 veteran-serving organizations to help veterans access services. We are leveraging community-based providers to make sure veterans receive timely access to care, and we are holding the VA accountable through monthly reporting meetings. We are moving forward while Washington drags its feet, because in Arizona we believe that veterans and their families should come first. But more action is required.
I appreciate the bipartisan work to advance a VA reform bill, especially from Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud. I call on the conferees to move quickly to produce commonsense reforms that can be signed into law. By working together, we can address this crisis and create a VA system that our veterans deserve.
Again, I thank my colleague from California for offering this motion.
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