Congressman Ruben Hinojosa Supports Our Veterans - Votes for Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act Conference Report

Press Release

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa votes to support our veterans in a bipartisan Conference Report of the Veterans Access, Choice & Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230). The bill includes $15 billion in emergency funding including $10 billion for expanded health care options for veterans, $5 billion to bolster care within the VA, and $2 billion in non-emergency funding for other services for veterans and their families. The bill includes offsets from within the VA totaling $5 billion.

"We must always do our best to give everything our veterans deserve," said U.S. Rep. Hinojosa. "I am glad to see that Congress came together to do the right thing when it comes to giving our veterans what they deserve. They, who have given their all to this country, should always be treated with the respect and honor for their sacrifice."

The bill is expected to pass the Senate and will be sent to President Obama for his signature.

The bill provides $10 billion to fund a pilot program to immediately address the VA wait-time crisis by allowing veterans who have waited at least 30 days for an appointment with the VA or who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility to seek care from a non-VA source (private physician, community health center, Department of Defense health care facility or Indian Health Center).

The bill includes $5 billion to VA to begin to address systemic problems within the VA health care system by hiring more primary and specialty care physicians and other medical staff and includes incentives to attract more doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to the VA.

Congressman Hinojosa added, "While this bill is not perfect, it represents a bipartisan first step to addressing the health care crisis our nation's veterans have been facing for too long. Democrats are committed to resolving these issues, reforming the VA and ensuring our nation's veterans have the care they have earned and deserve."

Key Provisions of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014

Expanding Access to Health Care for Veterans: The bulk of the funding in this agreement -- $10 billion in emergency funding -- is dedicated to expanding access to non-VA health care options for veterans who have been left waiting for more than 30 days for an appointment or live more than 40 miles from the nearest VA facility. Eligible veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system by August 1, 2014 or have served in active-duty within the last five years.

Addressing the Shortage of Health Professionals in the VA: The bill provides $5 billion to VA to hire more primary and specialty care physicians and other medical staff. The agreement also includes incentives to attract more doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to the VA, and to increase medical education opportunities to attract doctors in the future.

Ensuring Access to Care for Rural Veterans: Extends the ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home) pilot program for two years. ARCH expands VA's ability to serve veterans who live far from VA facilities in the following five communities: Northern Maine; Farmville, Virginia; Pratt, Kansas; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Billings, Montana.

Sexual Assault: The bill expands VA authority to provide counseling, care and other services to veterans and certain other non-veteran servicemembers who have experienced military sexual trauma during active or inactive duty training (including members of the National Guard and Reserves). The conference agreement also requires the VA and DOD to conduct an annual assessment focused on the transition and continuum of care from DOD to VA for those who have experiences military sexual trauma.

VA Facilities: The conference report includes $1.5 billion for leases for 27 new VA clinics in 18 states and Puerto Rico bringing care closer to where veterans live and increasing access to specialty care services. New facilities (CBOC -- Community-based outpatient center. San Antonio will receive a lease consolidation facility.

Expanding Access to Education for Veterans & Their Families: Let's veterans who are eligible for education benefits under the Post 9-11 New GI Bill qualify for in-state tuition. The bill also expands the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship to include spouses of members of the Air Force who die in the line duty while serving in active duty.

Community-Based Housing for Veterans with TBI: Extends a VA program that was about to expire that allows veterans struggling with TBI to live in community-based, rehabilitative housing.

Accountability: The conference agreement gives the VA Secretary the authority to immediately fire or demote senior executives based on poor job performance or misconduct. The bill also includes an expedited appeals process for terminated employees to prevent political firings and protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

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