Statement on Agreement to Reform the Department of Veterans Affairs

Statement

Today, Congressman Steve Pearce welcomed the news that House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller and Sen. Bernie Sanders had reached an agreement to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"The anger generated by the American people over the treatment of our veterans has spurred Washington to work together to find a solution. Your voices have been heard," said Pearce. "This legislation would allow our rural veterans to access local care, allow those who wait too long for appointments to seek care from local doctors, and promises to remove other bureaucratic barriers at the VA. I have fought for years for these changes and am ready to make them happern for New Mexico veterans."

"This agreement could not come at a better time for our veterans. I have spoken with the Albuquerque VQA Medical Center administration," Pearce continued. "They have confirmed that they will participate in a pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of providing local primary care, mental health care and speciality appointments to veterans in Roswell during Chairman Miller's visit to New Mexico next week. I look forward to leading New Mexico in one of the nation's first tests of what this legislation would look like."

The agreement, announced Monday by Sen. Sande4rs anfd Rep. Miller, is expected to be introduced by Congress this week.

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