Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have made robust funding for veterans' healthcare and benefits a top priority. New Hampshire is one of only three States without a full-service VA Hospital, which creates unique challenges for Granite State veterans' access to care, particularly in the rural parts of my State. Thankfully for the veterans of New Hampshire and the Nation, this Congress came together to pass historic bipartisan reform for the VA Community Care program, known as the Veterans Choice Program. That program provided veterans a choice to see their preferred healthcare provider within their community. However, in the wake of the Phoenix VA scandal, the implementation of this program fragmented veterans' care, according to GAO reports, and even extended wait times for veterans using the Choice program. Reform was much needed, and I was proud to cosponsor the bill known as the VA MISSION Act that would streamline healthcare and ensure continuity of care for those who have ``borne the battle.'' VA has some of the best healthcare in the country, healthcare that is specialized for the unique wounds of war, both seen and unseen, and healthcare that is provided by physicians experienced in understanding veterans.…”