Congressman Kevin McCarthy

Representing the 23rd District of CALIFORNIA
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A Step Towards a 21st Century VA

Jul 30, 2014
Press Release

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement on passage of the bicameral Veterans Administration (VA) agreement:

"The Veterans Administration has failed in its responsibility to provide the health services promised to the men and women who have served our country selflessly and courageously. For years, the House has conducted oversight—including a GAO report that House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller and I requested after hearing directly from many of our constituents about extended wait times. We discovered a deeply rooted culture of unaccountability and blatant disregard for our veterans in the VA that continues to this day."

“This agreement will provide our veterans the opportunity to seek care outside of the VA if they are unable to be seen at a VA facility within 30 days. It also gives significant relief to veterans living in rural communities that are greater than 40 miles from the closest VA facility by allowing them to seek outside care. For our veterans who suffer from significant Traumatic Brain Injury, this legislation also extends a program that provides residential care important to their recovery. These reforms are significant changes to the VA system, and passage of today’s agreement was a necessary and important step toward bringing the VA into the 21st Century."