Phoenix, AZ - Today Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema urged swift implementation of H.R. 3230, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, legislation to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which was signed into law by the President:

“This law makes needed reforms to the VA health care system and will get Arizona veterans access to the care they have earned,” said Sinema.

“These reforms should be implemented quickly and effectively to provide timely care for veterans, hold responsible parties accountable and restore confidence in the VA. While this law isn't a complete fix to the problems veterans face in getting access to quality care, it is an important start. We must continue working to solve this crisis."

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is at the center of revelations that veterans across the country, including veterans in Phoenix, were placed on secret lists and had to wait months before seeing a doctor.

Since this crisis began, Sinema, working in close coordination with Arizona veteran service organizations, community providers, and the VA, has taken aggressive action to address the problems within the Phoenix VA, to improve the timeliness and quality of care available to Phoenix veterans and to hold responsible parties accountable.

She also worked with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to pass commonsense reforms into law.

The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act builds on the efforts advanced by Sinema to address the crisis in Phoenix by:

• Allowing veterans who have been waiting for medical care for more than 30 days to receive care from non-VA doctors;
• Authorizing the VA to fire senior managers who knew about the cover up;
• Reviewing scheduling systems and technology so that fewer veterans slip through the cracks when seeking care;
• Providing resources for more physicians and medical staff to work in VA hospitals; and
• Creating an independent commission to investigate the Veterans Administration to find out what went wrong and to evaluate access to care throughout the VA health care system.

The new law also includes important provisions to improve education benefits for veterans and dependents.  The law requires public colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition to veterans and eligible dependents, regardless of the home state.

Congresswoman Sinema cosponsored and supported a bill, H.R. 357, which passed the House of Representatives in February, and in April 2011 while in the Arizona State Legislature, she led a similar successful effort to provide tuition fairness for veterans.

“Making college affordable for veterans and dependents gives veterans and their families a better chance to achieve the American dream,” said Sinema. “We did this in Arizona because it is the right thing to do and I am glad we were able to get the federal government to follow our lead.”

For more information on Congresswoman Sinema's work to get care for thousands of Arizona veterans and increase accountability at the Phoenix VA, please visit her Phoenix VA Information Center.

Read a one-page summary of the conference report here.

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