[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 172 (Wednesday, December 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 3447, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs 
Enhancement Act of 2001. This important legislation makes changes to 
and additions of several important health benefits for our Nation's 
veterans.
  I would like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. Smith and Mr. Evans, and the Chairman 
and Ranking Member of the Health Subcommittee Mr. Moran and Mr. Filner, 
and my colleagues on the Committee for their work on this bill.
  Although there are several important health benefit enhancements in 
this bill, I would like to speak specifically about the provisions 
regarding VA nurse retention and recruitment, which are taken from a 
bill that Representatives Sue Kelly, Carolyn McCarthy, Mike Doyle, and 
I introduced on October 3, 2001.
  The legislation we introduced, H.R. 3017 the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act of 2001, is 
companion legislation to S. 1188, which was introduced by Senator Jay 
Rockefeller on July 17, 2001.
  S. 1188, H.R. 3017, and now the provisions in H.R. 3347 seek to 
address the current nursing shortage in the VA health care system, and 
to ensure that the shortage is not exacerbated.
  The provisions in H.R. 3347 modify existing scholarship and debt 
reduction programs for VA nurses, requires the VA to establish staffing 
standards at VA health care facilities, makes pay more consistent for 
various VA health professionals, and rectifies unequal retirement 
policies to improve retention of nurses in the VA health care system.
  This legislation also requires the VA to report to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs regarding VA nursing issues, including the use of 
overtime by licensed nursing staff and nursing assistants in each 
facility in order to help determine what can be done to reduce the 
amount of mandatory overtime.
  This legislation is a critical step in addressing the nursing 
shortage in the VA health care system. I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 3347 and support our VA nurses and health care system, as well as 
the men and women who have fought for our country and now receive care 
at these facilities.

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