[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H14227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SUPPORT THE VETERANS TIMELY ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ACT

  (Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this year I introduced 
H.R. 92, the Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act. H.R. 92 makes a 
responsible and reasonable commitment to veterans throughout this 
country. Under the bill, if a veteran cannot get an appointment with a 
primary care physician within 30 days, that veteran may see a private 
physician at no additional cost. Unfortunately, the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee refuses to move my bill and allow the House of 
Representatives to vote on it.
  This year, I have witnessed the majority leadership use veterans as a 
political pawn. They've held the Military Construction and Veterans 
appropriations bill hostage. I won't allow the same thing to happen 
with veterans access to health care.
  I ask my colleagues, regardless of their party affiliation, to stand 
up and protect veterans as they once stood up to protect you. And I ask 
the leadership to move H.R. 92.

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