Press Releases

Washington – Congressman and Lt. Gen, USMC (ret.) Jack Bergman (MI-1) met today with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin to talk about ways in which Congress and the Administration can work together to make sure Veterans have timely access to the care and other benefits they’ve earned.

“As a Veteran of the Vietnam War, I know the obstacles that our Veterans have faced on the battlefield,” Bergman said. “They shouldn’t have to fight to get the care they’ve earned back here on the home front. Whether it’s reforming the VA’s organizational and managerial structure, rethinking metrics of success, or introducing more accountability into the VA’s hiring structure, it’s clear that it’s time for a change in culture at the VA. The VA exists solely to serve the physical, mental, and emotional needs of our Veterans, and I’m looking forward to working side-by-side with Secretary Shulkin and the Administration to make sure they’re getting the care they deserve.”

Congressman Bergman’s meeting with Secretary Shulkin comes as the House readied itself to vote on several measures aimed at improving Veteran care. Bergman is a cosponsor of four of those bills, including:

• The Veterans Appeals and Modernization Act (H.R. 2288): modernizes the VA’s broken appeals process to help the VA resolve its significant backlog of disability and offer Veterans timely notice of that resolution.
• The VA Prescription Data Accountability Act (H.R. 1545): improves the VA’s internal prescription tracking system to protect Veterans and their families from over-prescription of narcotics and drug diversion.
• The No Hero Left Untreated Act (H.R. 1162): aims to address the invisible wounds of war by creating a pilot program to explore Magnetic Resonant Therapy as a treatment for veterans suffering from depression, PTSD, and TBI.
• H.R. 1005 to improve the provision of adult day health care services for veterans: promotes independence and autonomy by increasing access to adult day care for Veterans who are eligible for nursing home care.

As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Congressman Bergman is committed to effective, efficient Veteran care for the men and women who have served this country in uniform at home and abroad.

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