[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 566 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 566

   Recognizing that care provided by employees of the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs is essential for meeting the health care needs of 
                     veterans of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 17, 2025

Mr. Blumenthal submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing that care provided by employees of the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs is essential for meeting the health care needs of 
                     veterans of the United States.

Whereas, as of 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs serves more than 
        7,000,000 patients;
Whereas, in 2024, veteran trust in Department outpatient health care was nearly 
        92 percent;
Whereas Department hospitals have out-performed non-Department hospitals in 
        quality and patient satisfaction in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
        Services' annual star ratings since 2023 when Department facilities 
        began being included in the annual star ratings;
Whereas recent studies have concluded that Department health care is 
        consistently as good as, or better than, commercial health care in areas 
        of quality and safety;
Whereas veterans who are engaged in Department health care in Department medical 
        facilities or through the Department's community care providers should 
        receive high-quality continuity of care and positive outcomes regardless 
        of where they receive their care;
Whereas the Department's 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report 
        found that in 2022 there were, on average, 17.6 veteran suicides per 
        day, of which 7.0 per day were among veterans who received care from the 
        Veterans Health Administration in 2021 or 2022, and 10.5 were among 
        other veterans.
Whereas the Department is the largest educator of health care professionals in 
        the United States, with more than 70 percent of practicing physicians 
        having completed at least some of their training at a Department medical 
        facility;
Whereas, for more than a century, Department researchers have made countless 
        medical breakthroughs, which have benefitted not only veterans, but all 
        people of the United States; and
Whereas the Department has a statutory ``fourth mission'' to support national, 
        State, and local emergency efforts in times of war, terrorism, natural 
        disasters, and public health emergencies, while continuing service to 
        veterans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the Department of Veterans Affairs is 
        essential in meeting the health care needs of veterans, 
        training the medical workforce, conducting critical research, 
        working to end veteran suicide, and improving public health and 
        the preparedness of the United States for emergencies;
            (2) urges the Department to support all it's employees, 
        respect their expertise and experience, and empower them with 
        appropriate resources to serve veterans; and
            (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to ensuring that 
        every veteran has timely access to high-quality, affordable, 
        and veteran-centered care, whether provided in Department 
        medical facilities or through Department community care 
        providers when direct care is not available or in the best 
        medical interest of the veteran.
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