Runyan Issues Statement Following Passage of Veterans Access to Care Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jon Runyan (NJ-03) made the following statement following the passage of H.R. 4810, the Veterans Access to Care Act of 2014:   

“With the release of yesterday’s internal audit report by the VA bringing to light that more than 57,000 of our nation’s veterans are still waiting for an initial appointment with the VA, today the House decided to take action.  In an overwhelmingly bipartisan effort, the House of Representatives passed critical legislation to help ensure that our veterans have timely access to the care that they so desperately need.

“As a country, we owe it to our veterans to ensure they receive the health care access and benefits they have earned through service to our nation.  As the debate on reforming the VA continues, the common sense legislation we passed today is the least that we can do to help speed up veteran’s access to care.  It is my sincere hope that Majority Leader Reid will bring this bipartisan legislation to the Senate floor for a vote as quickly as possible.”

This bill, which Rep. Runyan is an original co-sponsor of, directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with non-VA facilities to provide care to veterans and to contract with independent private sector experts to conduct an assessment of the hospital care and medical services furnished by the VA.

H.R.4810 passed the House of Representatives this afternoon by a vote of 426-0.

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