Veterans Affairs

Our veterans have played a crucial, historic role in protecting our freedom and advancing democracy worldwide. Time and again, they have opposed tyranny in the never-ending effort to defend and promote American values.

I am working to properly honor veterans by:

Co-sponsoring and pushing for legislation to reform the VA, allow veterans to see private doctors, and bring much needed accountability to the Department.

Fighting to get promised new VA outpatient clinics built in Lafayette and Lake Charles.

Fighting to make sure the abuses reported at the VA throughout the country do not happen in Louisiana, and working to make sure the VA Inspector General fully investigates whistleblower reports in Shreveport.

Authoring and passing legislation to dramatically improve prescription drug benefits for Medicare-eligible military retirees and their dependents.

Coauthoring and helping pass TRICARE For Life health coverage and key reforms in TRICARE.

Cosponsoring advanced funding legislation for VA appropriations to allow the VA to better prepare for future health care spending.

Cosponsoring legislation allowing for concurrent receipt of military retirement benefits and disability benefits.

Supporting and achieving funding increases in VA programs, including a more than 50 percent increase in both overall veterans funding and veterans health care funding.

Cosponsoring legislation to strengthen the Survivor Benefits Program. 

Cosponsoring legislation to improve the VA's ability to take care of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs -- Veterans Benefits Administration New Orleans Regional Office

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

American Legion

Tribute to Louisiana's Fallen Heroes

Latest

• Vitter and Boustany Request Hearings to Protect Veterans’ Appeals Rights

  ( Senator David Vitter (R-Louisiana) and Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., (R-South Louisiana) sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees requesting that the committees hold oversight hearings on the transfer of authority over payments for veterans’ emergency medical services from the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Chief Business Office under the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014.

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  Posted on 11/20/14

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• Vitter: Final Vets Bill Passes Senate, Includes VA Clinics for Lafayette, Lake Charles

  (Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced today that the U.S. Senate passed a final veterans bill that includes authorization for VA outpatient clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles. The legislation passed 91-3.

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  Posted on 07/31/14

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• Vitter Announces VA Clinics for Lafayette, Lake Charles will be in Final Veterans Bill

  

  Posted on 07/29/14

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• Vitter Announces VA Clinics for Lafayette, Lake Charles will be in Final Veterans Bill

  (Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced today that the authorization for VA outpatient clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles will be in the final veterans bill being worked out in Congress.

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  Posted on 07/28/14

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• Vitter Continues Investigations of Louisiana VA Hospitals

  

  Posted on 06/26/14

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• Vitter Continues Investigations of Louisiana VA Hospitals

  (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Sen. David Vitter spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate today about ongoing investigations into different cases at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals in New Orleans and Shreveport. 

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  Posted on 06/26/14

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• KTBS: New emails reveal more delays at Overton Brooks

  

  Posted on 06/25/14

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• Vitter Demands Investigation of VA’s Overton Brooks in Shreveport

  (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is asking for a thorough investigation into the waitlist practices of Overton Brooks Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Vitter sent a letter to Richard J. Griffin, Acting Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), urging him to investigate. A whistleblower from Overton Brooks came forward with allegations that VA administrators manipulate data on veterans’ wait times.

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  Posted on 06/18/14

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• Vitter Supports VA Bill that Includes Lafayette, Lake Charles Clinics and Major Reforms to VA

  

  Posted on 06/11/14

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• Vitter Passes Lafayette and Lake Charles Clinics Through the Senate

  (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today supported the veterans’ health care reform bill in the U.S. Senate. Vitter successfully included authorization for Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics – including clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles -- in the final bill. Vitter also highlighted positive reforms to the VA in the bill like making it possible to fire employees, creating more options for veterans to obtain private health care, and adding additional accountability that requires the VA to report on outcomes and make necessary data available.

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  Posted on 06/11/14

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