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Congressman Ron Barber

Representing the 2nd District of Arizona

Veterans

Veteran

America’s veterans have made every sacrifice to defend our nation and protect our freedoms. It is my honor to represent about 85,000 veterans who live in Southern Arizona and I understand the solemn pledges we make to members of the armed forces and their families. As someone who was raised in a military family and lived on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base as a child, I am proud to work on behalf of veterans and their families. I will work to ensure that our veterans receive the compensation, health care, educational opportunities, and employment assistance that they deserve.

If you are a veteran who is having trouble receiving the benefits you have earned, please click here, or contact my offices in Tucson at 520-881-3588 or in Sierra Vista at 520-459-3115.

Improving Care for Veterans

The men and women in the military stepped up when this nation needed their service. Congressman Barber is committed to making it as easy as possible for them to receive the care they need without excessive waits or travel. That’s why he introduced the Veterans Health Access Act, bipartisan legislation to improve access to health care by taking the best interest of the patient into account and increasing the ability of veterans to see their private doctors and providers in their communities.

Congressman Barber has made it s a priority to talk to veterans in Southern Arizona about their needs and concerns. In those discussions and while working with members of his Veterans Advisory Council, he has heard praise for the health care provided by the Veterans Administration, but also concerns about access to it.

In most cases, veterans who receive care from the Veterans Affairs administration must be treated at VA medical facilities. But veterans in urban areas often deal with long waits. Veterans who live in rural areas often must travel long distances, many times for procedures that might make travel that much more difficult.  Some veterans require care that is unavailable at VA facilities or they would benefit from specialized care elsewhere. Veterans with mental health issues have another problem: There simply are not enough mental health practitioners at VA facilities to provide timely and ongoing service. It is difficult for veterans to get VA approval for treatment by private doctors or at private facilities. Permission is granted on a case-by-case basis for so-called “fee-basis care.”

Congressman Barber’s bill would require that the VA give primary consideration to the best interests of the veteran in determining where and by whom veterans are treated. That determination would have to take into account distance, wait time and quality of care, thereby allowing more veterans to qualify for fee-basis care when they need it.

Veterans Transportation Services Act

Congressman Barber has introduced the bipartisan Veterans Transportation Service Act, legislation to help veterans access the medical care they need. The Veterans Transportation Service initiative was set up to give veterans better access to the VA health care they deserve—this legislation ensures that it will. The men and women who have served our country will know that we stand ready to give them the care, and access to care, that they deserve. This legislation helps to fulfill our commitment to those who have served by ensuring that the Veterans Transportation Service can continue to transport veterans to their appointments, treatment and other services.

The Veterans Transportation Service currently operates out of fifty VA facilities in twenty-five states and the District of Columbia, including the facility in Tucson. This bill will provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with the authority to expand the VTS program to other areas across the United States. The VTS program will not replace, but supplement and expand, transportation services already provided by Veteran Service Organizations and non-profits.

The legislation is expected to save taxpayers up to $19.2 million in FY 2014 and $102.7 million over five years because the VA would not have to contract with ambulance services and there would be a reduction in mileage reimbursements.

In  July, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs subcommittee on health the Veterans Transportation Service Act, where the VA said it “strongly supports” passage of the bill. Also testifying in support of the legislation were representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans, and representatives of the American Legion.
 

Reducing the VA Backlog

Reducing the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs is critical for veterans across Southern Arizona and the nation. Veterans filing a new disability claim can wait a year or more before getting an answer from the VA. In the past year, the VA finally started shrinking the backlog, but more work is necessary. Congressman Barber is committed to working with his colleagues in Congress to ensure that VA claims are reduced.

The complexity and number of disabilities being claimed by veterans often slows down the claims process for veterans filing for multiple disabilities. This reality unfairly disadvantages some of our most disabled veterans. Congressman Barber has sponsored the Pay As You Rate Act, which will mandate the VA begin paying disability compensation for each disability as it is validated. Under the current system, a veteran has to wait until all of his or her disabilities are evaluated before receiving disability compensation. The Pay As You Rate Act will ensure veterans receive compensation in a timely manner and that our most disabled veterans are not left waiting for the VA bureaucracy to make a final decision.

Some veterans do not petition the VA for disability compensation for a number of years after leaving the military. These veterans may have been under the care of civilian physicians who provided a diagnosis for a service connected disability. While it is important to ensure the highest quality of care for veterans, the current VA policy of referring veterans to VA doctors to confirm civilian diagnoses is exacerbating the number of backlogged claims. Veterans should not have to wait longer merely to confirm what they already know and what has already been confirmed. That is why Congressman Barber has also sponsored the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, which would mandate that the VA accept civilian diagnoses without further unnecessary hurdles.

Combating Veterans Unemployment

The unemployment rate for veterans nationwide, including young veterans returning from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, remains much higher than the national average, Congressman Barber is committed to working to lower the veteran unemployment rate. That’s why he has joined the House Veterans Jobs Caucus, which is committed to help find jobs for the approximately 800,000 veterans looking for work. Any person who has put their life on the line in defense of our freedom and homeland should not have to fight for a job or the benefits they deserve when they return home.

More on Veterans

Dec 5, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber reminded Southern Arizonans that his Southern Arizona offices are collecting holiday cards to be sent to members of the armed forces and veterans.
Nov 26, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber will help serve Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow to airmen and retirees at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base before spending Black Friday shopping at local businesses and attending the Arizona-Arizona State football game.
Nov 14, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today announced that his Southern Arizona offices will collect holiday cards to be sent to members of the armed forces and veterans.
Nov 12, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber and his wife Nancy have donated to three Southern Arizona charities money that the federal government spent to subsidize the congressman’s health insurance premiums in November.
Nov 10, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today issued the following statement on tomorrow’s observance of Veterans Day:
Nov 3, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber yesterday presented a 91-year-old World War II veteran with medals, patches and ribbons replacing military decorations that were stolen from him earlier this year.
Oct 31, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber on Sunday will present a 91-year-old World War II veteran with medals, patches and ribbons replacing military decorations that were stolen from him earlier this year.
Oct 28, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today welcomed news that a special court established to help veterans avoid serious legal difficulties will receive more than $2.3 million in federal grants over the next four years.
Oct 22, 2014 Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today issued the following statement after the Arizona Republic today reported new allegations involving the Phoenix VA medical center.
Oct 21, 2014 Press Release
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Ron Barber today welcomed an announcement that the VA soon will begin accepting applications for an expanded scholarship that Barber worked to get approved by the House.