Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer the amendment on behalf of my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Gallego). Representative Gallego's amendment establishes the position of Director of Veterans Integrated Service Networks within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health in the VA. Leadership vacancies are prevalent across the VA, particularly in terms of network and facility directors, and this amendment will provide the VA with additional flexibility to recruit medical center directors and VISN directors. {time} 1900 Within the 21 VISNs, there are 151 medical centers, 985 outpatient clinics, 135 community living centers, 103 domiciliary rehabilitation treatment programs, 300 readjustment counseling centers, and 70 mobile vet centers. Network directors have oversight of healthcare delivery for as many as 10 VA medical centers and numerous community-based outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and domiciliary centers. Ensuring that the VA has all the tools necessary to fill and retain these leadership positions is critical to fulfilling the VHA's mission and providing quality, timely care to our veterans. This amendment is included in H.R. 4011, the Delivering Opportunities for Care and Services for Veterans Act, otherwise known as DOCS for Vets Act, which the VA Secretary recently included amongst his top legislative priorities for the remainder of this Congress. The language also passed unanimously in the Senate Veterans Affairs' Committee as part of the bipartisan Vets First Act.…”