Statement by VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie - Congressional Action on Veterans Choice Program

April 27, 2018, 03:10:00 PM

Printable Version

Need Viewer Software?

Statement by VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie - Congressional Action on Veterans Choice Program

Under President Trump, the VA has benefitted from some of the most significant legislative reforms in the history of the department.

With funding for VA’s Choice program set to run out soon, America’s Veterans need Congress to come together to support this crucial program and pass legislation that will make it permanent. 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, and allows Veterans to get care when and where they need it.

Without community care, VA’s ability to provide timely, high quality health care to Veterans will be dramatically diminished. The VA, along with the White House, commend Congress’s dedication to finding a long term solution to the Choice Program. We are looking forward to working closely with Chairman Roe and House Leadership in the coming weeks to advance this legislation through the House of Representatives. We cannot wait any longer.

Decisive action must be taken in order to deliver on our promise to our Veterans. They deserve the best healthcare options available, and a permanent Choice program will give them that.

That’s why we’re calling on Congress to come together on a bipartisan basis to complete this critical mission for our nation’s Veterans.

----

Letters to Chairmen Isakson and Roe on the status of funding of the Veterans Choice Program (VCP).