Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman and ranking member of this committee. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Thompson-Berkley amendment, which is nearly identical to H.R. 1832, the bipartisan Servicemembers' Telemedicine and E-Health Portability Act, or STEP Act. This amendment will bring essential reforms to how our servicemembers and veterans access care, and will bring commonsense, no-cost changes to how the Department of Defense administers health care. Currently, the Department of Defense has a limited ability to allow its health care professionals to provide care when a patient is in a different State. The Department of Defense's hands are also tied when it comes to civilians or contractors who have stepped up to fill shortages in desperately needed positions, especially mental health. As a result, many in the military are required to travel long distances in order to access care. This can add undue stress and financial burdens to the everyday lives of our service men and women. Too often these circumstances contribute to those going without who need help the most and, in some cases, contribute to their falling through the cracks. By removing location requirements, this amendment will allow the Department of Defense qualified and credentialed health care professionals, including contractors and civilians, to get to their core mission of helping their compatriots in need.…”