This morning, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) applauded the agreement upon a final, comprehensive VA reform bill drafted by a conference committee tasked with reconciling the House and Senate versions of the bill. She urged her colleagues in the House and Senate to immediately pass the legislation in order to help our nation’s veterans access the high-quality health care they need and deserve.

“I’m optimistic that this legislation has been finalized, but it is unacceptable that our veterans have had to wait even this long for the final legislation to come to fruition,” said Rep. Annie Kuster. “Our veterans made extreme personal sacrifices to serve and protect this great nation, and as fellow Americans we owe them swift passage of this bill, which will help provide the VA with the oversight and resources it needs to ensure that no veteran is left waiting – ever. I call on my colleagues to put aside partisan differences and come together to pass this legislation now, or stay in session through the planned August district work period until this gets done.”

The bill that was approved by the House-Senate Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee was the result of five weeks of negotiations. A member of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Kuster has long called for passage of a comprehensive package of reforms to address the systemic issues of mismanagement, delayed access to care, and lack of accountability recently uncovered at VA medical facilities  across the nation. Frustrated by the slow pace of the Conference Committee, Friday afternoon Kuster joined a group of her colleagues in the House in sending a letter to Speaker Boehner and Leader Reid calling on Congress to stay in session until both chambers passed this crucially important piece of legislation.

Since allegations of long wait times at the Phoenix VA were first discovered by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Kuster has joined her fellow Committee members in leading an investigation into any and all allegations of mismanagement at VA centers across the nation. She has repeatedly called for increased oversight and immediate action at the VA to prevent any further mismanagement, and was one of the first members to call for a thorough, nationwide audit to uncover any other instances of abuse. Kuster has also provided strict oversight over the VA medical centers serving New Hampshire, and she has called on the New England VA Network Director to conduct a complete review of wait times and to provide whistleblower protection for staff who come forward with information about mismanagement. She also held a roundtable discussion with Veteran Service Organizations and veteran leaders to hear about their experiences at the VA medical centers, and she continues to monitor their care in New Hampshire.

A copy of the letter sent to House and Senate Leadership can be found here and below:

July 25, 2014

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner,

We, the undersigned Members of Congress, urge you to not let the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives go out of session prior to a successful resolution to the Conference Committee that was formed to work out a compromise between the Senate and House versions of the Veterans’ Access to Care Act, and its subsequent passage in both chambers of Congress.

The health of the veterans who have served us so bravely should not be placed on the back burner while Congress is away during the August district work period. Our veterans have served the nation with honor, and we owe it to them to waste no more time in ensuring they have access to the best health care possible. In light of  recent serious complications and allegations of wrong-doing within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in addition to validated long wait times at VA medical facilities, it is extremely urgent that a fix be put into place as soon as possible.

Both the Senate and House versions would expand veterans’ ability to seek care at non-VA facilities under certain conditions, strengthen Congress’ oversight of the VA and eliminate performance-related bonuses for VA employees. We need to address the overwhelmed VA and ensure all veterans get the care they have earned through their service to our country. Our veterans deserve nothing but the very best.

Again, this issue is far too serious to wait, and we encourage a swift resolution to be found by remaining in session until a suitable compromise bill can be passed out of both chambers. Let’s put our nations’ veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, first.

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