Washington - Congressman Jack Bergman, Chairman of the VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, released the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs passed four of his bills, as well as the VA MISSION Act, which replaces the flawed VA Choice program:
"As a retired combat Veteran, Chairman of the VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Representative of the First District of Michigan, providing our Veterans with the quality care they've earned has been a top priority for me since taking office. The Community Care Bill puts Veterans first and ensures a collaborative effort between patient and doctor to promote real choice for our nation's Veterans," said Bergman.
In a joint letter to Congress, nearly 40 Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) offered their support for the VA MISSION Act stating, "This historic Veterans legislation would consolidate and reform VA’s community care programs; extend funding for the current Veterans Choice Program for one year; strengthen VA’s ability to recruit, hire and retain quality medical personnel; review, realign and modernize VA’s health care infrastructure; and extend eligibility to VA’s comprehensive caregiver assistance program to aging and disabled veterans injured before September 11, 2001."
Congressman Bergman’s four additional bills passed out of the VA Committee today and will now go to the House floor:
(Sponsored)
H.R. 5418, the Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act
H.R. 5215, Veterans Affairs Purchase Card Misuse Mitigation Act
(Original Co-Sponsor)
H.R. 5044, Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act
H.R.4245, the Veterans' Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act
Additionally, Congressman Bergman voted in favor of passing H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017. This bill extends the presumption of service connection for certain diseases linked to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange to Veterans who served in the territorial seas of Vietnam.
"Frankly, this legislation is 30 years overdue," said Bergman. "I'm proud of the work the VA Committee has accomplished under Chairman Roe's leadership, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to ensure this legislation is signed into law."