Senate Passes VA Reform Bill That Green-Lights Lafayette VA Clinic

Press Release

Bill that includes reforms by Landrieu heads to President for signature; Lafayette clinic originally included in Senate bill, now in final version after request by Landrieu

The U.S. Senate today passed a bill that reforms the Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration and green lights the long-delayed Lafayette veterans clinic after U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., included the authorization in the in the original Senate bill. The Senator also requested it remain in the final version by House and Senate negotiators. The bill now heads to the President for his expected signature.

"Today, we changed the light from red to green to build a new and larger clinic in Lafayette to provide quality and local health care for veterans in Acadiana. It has taken longer than it should have, but I was proud to work with Rep. Boustany and lead our delegation's efforts to keep the promise made to the 30,000 veterans who call Acadiana home," Sen. Landrieu said. "I will work with our local officials to break ground as soon as possible."

The bill also includes tools and reforms--some by Sen. Landrieu--to increase health care access, provide greater transparency and hold individuals accountable:

Allows a veteran who lives more than 40 miles from a VA clinic OR has waited for more than 30 days for an appointment to receive care from a private Medicare-approved provider.

Provides $5 billion to hire hundreds of additional doctors and nurses for bedside care.

Gives the leadership of the VA the authority to fire incompetent officials. This is based on the amendment Sen. Landrieu added to the bill that funds the VA for FY15.

Increases transparency and accountability by requiring the VA to post online the wait times for scheduling appointments at VA medical facilities.

Earlier this month, Sen. Landrieu met with Louisiana Veterans Affairs Sec. David LaCerte to coordinate state and federal efforts to reduce health care wait times, increase the number of doctors and nurses and thanked LaCerte for his service to Louisiana and its 300,000 veterans. This follows Sen. Landrieu being one of the first senators to call for former VA Sec. Eric Shinseki to resign and successfully added an amendment to hold ineffective officials at the VA accountable that she added to the bill that funds the VA for FY15.

In September 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) changed its characterization of Major Medical Facility leases, requiring the Veterans Administration to pay for a full 20 years of rent upfront for health clinics. While the leases would have normally cost just more than $126 million, they are now scored at almost $1.4 billion. Due to these costs, 27 clinics across the country could not be authorized in fiscal year 2013, including clinics in Lake Charles and Lafayette.

Since then, Sen. Landrieu and Rep. Boustany have partnered to pass legislation and find solutions to construct the two clinics in Southwest Louisiana. Earlier this year, Sen. Landrieu and Rep. Boustany led an effort of the entire Louisiana congressional delegation to demand answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on the delayed completion of the two veterans' clinics in Southwest Louisiana.

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