On the recordMay 22, 2014
The number of veterans has declined by several millions in recent years, due to deaths and decreases in the numbers of our military, yet the problems in the VA and complaints by veterans about poor treatment and long delays have grown by leaps and bounds. It is definitely not a money problem because no department or agency has received the megabillions and high percentage increases that the Congress has given to the VA; yet, despite years of criticism for Members of Congress and the media, the problems have grown worse. The only effective solution is competition. I said in a speech to a veterans group many years ago that eligible veterans should be given a card and allowed to go to any hospital they choose, including those considered to be the best in the Nation. In this way, VA hospitals would be forced to provide better service, or Congress could and should close the ones with rapidly declining and/or very low occupancy rates. Mr. Speaker, our veterans deserve the very best medical treatment possible. ____________________
