Senate Passes VA Reform Bill That Increases Accountability, Improves Service for La. Vets
Bill that includes authorization of two SW La. clinics heads to President for signature
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate today passed a bill that reforms the Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration to increase health care access, provide greater transparency and hold individuals accountable. The bill includes the following tools and reforms, many of which were pushed by Sen. Landrieu:
“What happened at the VA is completely inexcusable, and individuals must be held accountable so this never happens again. In return for the sacrifices our veterans and their families make in service to our country, they deserve the best care America has to offer. Ensuring they receive the quality care that they have more than earned is going to take strong leadership and accountability at the VA. The bill that passed the Senate today is a start to achieve that and keep the promises that we make to our veterans,” Sen. Landrieu said. “There were no lines when our brave men and women signed up to serve, there should be no lines when they return home to receive the care they have already earned.” Earlier this month, Sen. Landrieu met with Louisiana Veterans Affairs Sec. David LaCerte to coordinate state and federal efforts to reduce health care wait times, increase the number of doctors and nurses and thanked LaCerte for his service to Louisiana and its 300,000 veterans. This follows Sen. Landrieu being one of the first senators to call for former VA Sec. Eric Shinseki to resign and successfully added an amendment to hold ineffective officials at the VA accountable that she added to the bill that funds the VA for FY15. The bill also green lights the long-delayed veterans clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles after U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., included the green light in the original Senate bill. The Senator also requested they remain in the final version by House and Senate negotiators. The bill now heads to the President for his expected signature. In September 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) changed its characterization of Major Medical Facility leases, requiring the Veterans Administration to pay for a full 20 years of rent upfront for health clinics. While the leases would have normally cost just more than $126 million, they are now scored at almost $1.4 billion. Due to these costs, 27 clinics across the country could not be authorized in fiscal year 2013, including clinics in Lake Charles and Lafayette. Since then, Sen. Landrieu and Rep. Boustany have partnered to pass legislation and find solutions to construct the two clinics in Southwest Louisiana. Earlier this year, Sen. Landrieu and Rep. Boustany led an effort of the entire Louisiana congressional delegation to demand answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on the delayed completion of the two veterans’ clinics in Southwest Louisiana. “Today, we changed the light from red to green to build these clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles to provide quality and local health care for veterans in Southwest Louisiana. It has taken longer than it should have, but I was proud to work with Rep. Boustany and lead our delegation’s efforts to keep the promise made to the 50,000 veterans who call Southwest Louisiana home,” Sen. Landrieu said. “I will work with our local officials to break ground as soon as possible.”
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