President Signs Congress' VA Overhaul Legislation:
On Thursday, President Obama signed the House and Senate veterans' reform legislation into law. This law overhauls and corrects some of the systemic shortcomings of our veterans' healthcare delivery and the widespread problems at the Department of Veterans' Affairs. For too long, our service men and women have suffered due to the agency's lack of accountability and lack of leadership.
These reforms will immediately give relief to veterans who have been waiting an inordinate amount of time to see a physician, by allowing them to seek non-VA treatment. In addition, it will give the VA the authority to immediately fire or demote Senior Executive Service employees for poor performance or misconduct. I believe this provision will shore-up some of the leadership and accountability problems that have been reported at VA facilities around the country.
The men and women who have served and continue to devote their lives to the defense of our nation deserve the highest quality of care we have to offer and these reforms are a good first step to ensure our promise.
Legislation To Give Employers ACA Clarity:
I recently introduced bipartisan legislation with my colleagues Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Jim Costa (D-CA), that will clarify the employer mandate's seasonal worker exemption provision within the President's healthcare law.
Employers who depend on seasonal help deserve some clarity regarding their responsibility to comply with the Employer Mandate. H.R. 5213 will give employers a clear-cut definition that will allow them to hire seasonal employees without fear of being penalized because of confusing rules. My commitment is and always will be to ensure small businesses are not negatively impacted by laws, and this is a continuation of efforts to create an environment for them to grow, create jobs, and foster a healthy economy.
The Audiology Patient Choice Act:
I recently introduced H.R. 5304, a bipartisan piece of legislation to align Medicare with best practices in audiologic health care delivery.
Seniors should have the right to choose their audiologist, just like the rest of us. The Audiology Patient Choice Act will not only allow seniors to choose their own doctor, but it will widen the field of providers to choose from by addressing some of the doctor shortages we face in our country. I am proud to champion this legislation with Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) to ensure our parents and grandparents have the highest quality and safe audiologic care available.
Tornado Recovery Efforts in Baxter Springs:
This week I went to Baxter Springs with State Senator Jake LaTurner to meet Mayor Randy Trease about the progress of the recovery efforts after the devastating tornado touched down in April.
Baxter Springs is resilient and is a great example of how when Kansan's are dealt a blow, their character shines through, answers the call, and refuses to be beaten. I want to thank everyone who took time out of their day to share personal experiences with me, especially concerns over the federal government's response to the disaster in the weeks following the tragedy.
Touring Watco Companies in Pittsburg:
On Thursday, I spoke to the staff at Watco Companies in Pittsburg, Kansas and got to take a tour of the operation. They even let me board their PSU-locomotive "The Gorilla Express".
Horses of Hope Riding Center:
On Thursday I visited Horses of Hope Riding Center in Baxter Springs. This volunteer-driven organization is having a big impact in Southeast Kansas, offering the community therapeutic services through the joys of riding.
Walmart Hiring Center and the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in Topeka:
On Friday, I visited the Walmart Hiring Center to see how the company will fill over 250 jobs for the new Supercenter coming to Topeka. I also got to discuss the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, which ensures a job will be offered to any qualified veteran. This program is fulfilling an important duty for our community to make certain those who served have opportunities back home.
Topeka Pathology Group Laboratory at Stormont Vail:
On Friday afternoon, I met with Dr. Mark Synovec who is the acting President at Topeka Pathology Group, LLC. Thanks to Dr. Synovec for taking time out of his day to show me around the lab!