Bob Filner: “I rise in support of the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001''. I want to…”

“I rise in support of the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001''. I want to thank Chairman Christopher Smith, Ranking Member Lane Evans and Chairman Jerry Moran of the Health Subcommittee for addressing some of the concerns I raised about earlier versions of the bill. We now have a bill to which I am pleased to lend my support. Mr. Speaker, as a long-time advocate of chiropractic and a user of its services, I am, perhaps, most gratified that we have agreed to a comprehensive proposal to create a permanent chiropractic program within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This legislation will require VA to establish a national chiropractic program that will make chiropractic services available in each geographic service area. VA has rebuffed Congress and the chiropractic profession time and time again in an attempt to bring better access to chiropractic services under the VA's umbrella. We asked VA to develop a policy under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, but leaving the policy development in VA's hands, veterans' access to chiropractic services has worsened. We simply cannot allow VA to keep barring the door to chiropractic care. Today is a fresh start for chiropractic care in VA. While I prefer the chiropractic care version this House approved in H.R. 2792, as amended, the provision in the bill before us today ensures that chiropractic care will be available in every VA network.”