Washington, DC – Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has created a “Rural Health National Advisory Committee” to better serve the millions veterans who live in rural America.  According to the VA, of the nearly 25 million veterans living in America, 41% of those who receive health care service through the VA live in rural communities.  This is very much the case for the more than 60,000 veterans who live in the Congresswoman’s Congressional District. 

“I applaud the VA for putting together this very important panel, but wonder why it has taken the VA this long to recognize that critical needs are not being met in our rural communities,“ said Congresswoman Gillibrand, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee.  “Time and time again I hear how the system is failing our veterans, and I hope this panel can bring the Administration substantial reforms to better serve the millions of brave men and women who served in the uniform.”

Early this month, the Congresswoman announced that veterans eligible for mileage reimbursements will be receiving almost double the reimbursement rate, the first increase in 30 years.  The beneficiary travel reimbursement rate will change from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile.  This reform was part of the important changes supported by the Congresswoman in late 2007 in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which funded the VA Health Administration at more than $37 billion dollars.