Hudson Votes to Overhaul VA, Fund Choice Program
May 16, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2018
Hudson Votes to Overhaul VA, Fund Choice Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Fort Bragg's Congressman and a voice for North Carolina's veterans, released the following statement after the House passed the VA Mission Act of 2018 (S. 2372), a bipartisan package to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and fund the Choice Program:
“The VA’s bureaucracy is not going to get fixed unless Congress forces its hand, and today’s landmark legislation goes a long way,” said Rep. Hudson. “Much like my Care Veterans Deserve Act, it aims to give veterans more options and flexibility in choosing their health care while streamlining current VA programs. In addition, it expands the VA’s caregiver program to help ensure the 4 million spouses, family members, and friends who care for ill or injured service members and veterans have the support they need. As representative of the fastest growing veteran population, I’m proud to support this bill and I’ll continue to work to ensure veterans have timely access to quality care – both within the VA and in our community.”
This important bill builds off of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s ongoing work, including a field hearing Rep. Hudson hosted in Fayetteville, to discuss strategies to improve the VA’s care in the community programs – including the Choice program – to facilitate access to timely, quality care for veterans in North Carolina.
The bill would streamline the department’s duplicative community care programs into one cohesive program; create a non-partisan process for reviewing VA’s assets to ensure veterans can access the care they have earned; and expand the VA’s Post-9/11 Caregiver Program to all eras. These reforms are supported by dozens of major Veterans Service Organizations and stakeholders. The bill also includes funding for the Choice Program that is expected to last until the new program authorized under the VA MISSION Act is implemented.
North Carolina is fortunate to be home to more than 700,000 veterans, and taking care of these retired service members and their families is one of Rep. Hudson’s top responsibilities. As always, Rep. Hudson’s office stands ready to assist every veteran in our district with problems they are having with the VA or a federal agency. If a veteran in the 8th district needs assistance, please contact our office in Concord at (704) 786-1612 or our office in Fayetteville at (910) 997-2070.
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Issues:Veterans