Long Takes Action to Honor Our Nation's Veterans, Ensure Veterans Receive the Quality Care They Earned

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Billy Long today voted in favor of the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 to ensure our nation's veterans receive the quality of care they deserve.

"We are blessed to live in a nation where patriotic individuals willingly step up to personally sacrifice for the freedoms and liberties of their fellow citizens. Like many Americans I was angered to learn of the treatment our nation's veterans were receiving at the Department of Veterans Affairs. These honorable men and women should have our respect and gratitude. This legislation goes a long way to correct the problems that plagued the VA and ensures our veterans receive the quality of care they have rightfully earned. It is important our nation shows our veterans that their sacrifices do not go unnoticed by taking action to support them," Long said.

The Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act makes several reforms, including provisions which would allow veterans to receive care at non-Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) facilities and a requirement that the VA provide a Veterans Choice Card for eligible veterans to receive care provided by non-VA providers. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health system as of August 1, 2014, newly discharged veterans who are unable to secure an appointment at a VA facility in 30 days, or veterans who lives more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility.

The legislation also authorizes the VA to fire or demote Senior Executive Service employees for negligence and poor performance and reduces funding for bonuses available to VA employees by $40 million each year through Fiscal Year 2024.

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