Sen. Carper Supports Passage of VA Reform Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a veteran of the United States Navy, released the following statement after the Senate passed the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act. 

 “Today, Congress sent a bill to the President that helps the Department of Veterans Affairs meet its responsibilities and, in the words of President Lincoln, ‘To care for him who shall have borne the battle.’ The legislation improves veterans’ access to health care services for those who are waiting too long for care they need. The bill increases accountability for VA employees, while also providing the VA the resources it needs to hire more doctors, nurses, and clinical staff to reduce wait times and maintain high-quality care at VA medical facilities across the country. In the same week that the Senate confirmed Bob McDonald as VA Secretary, I’m glad to see my colleagues giving this critical issue the attention it deserves. 

 “Congress, the president, and the leadership of the VA must continue working together to improve veterans’ access to health care and to restore both veterans’ and taxpayers’ trust in the agency. Passing this bill is a good first step and I look forward to identifying and addressing other areas of improvement in the coming months.

“The challenges facing veterans are not limited to the immediate crisis of unreasonable delays in receiving the care they deserve. Too many are unemployed, too many aren’t getting the most out of their G.I. Bill benefits, too many are homeless, and too many aren’t getting the mental health care they need after returning from the battlefield. Secretary McDonald understands these challenges and I look forward to working with him to make a difference in the lives of our veterans and their families.”