Steve Buyer: “I rise in support of S. 1963, as amended, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. This bill…”

“I rise in support of S. 1963, as amended, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. This bill represents a bipartisan effort on behalf of the House and Senate, and I express my thanks to Chairman Filner, Chairman Akaka, and Ranking Member Burr for their leadership. Reflecting the spirit of compromise and cooperation, S. 1963 is composed of a number of bills from both sides of the aisle. It would provide increased access to care, better outreach and support for wounded veterans, rural veterans, and homeless veterans, and also includes enhancements and provisions of mental health care and readjustment counseling for recent veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. I would like to thank my good friend and colleague from Kansas, Jerry Moran, for his bill, H.R. 3103, that was included to help VA move forward with a pilot program to enhance contract care authority for highly rural veterans. This pilot, which was enacted in the last Congress, was Mr. Moran's initiative.”