Statement by Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie - Introduction of H.R. 5674, the VA MISSION Act

May 3, 2018, 02:03:00 PM

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Statement by Acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie

Introduction of H.R. 5674, the VA MISSION Act

I commend Chairman Roe and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for introducing legislation that, as Chairman Roe so aptly states, “will ensure veterans have timely access to the care they have earned.”

As I said last week, there is simply no denying how vital community providers are to VA’s mission, as the Choice program accounts for an average of more than 30,000 appointments per day.

The House bill is based on a bipartisan agreement that Roe proposed including in last month’s omnibus spending package. It would streamline and merge VA’s multiple community care efforts into a single program, require a non-partisan review of VA assets, and open up VA’s caregiver program to pre-9/11 Veterans.

President Trump underscored today the importance of Congress passing this bill by Memorial Day so that Veterans “can get the care they deserve.” He also pledged to sign it immediately.

Our Veterans deserve no less, and I will work with House and Senate leaders to get this done on President Trump’s timetable.