[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E716-E717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HELPING ENSURE THAT ALL VETERANS GET THE CARE THEY HAVE EARNED

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 24, 2017

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to express my strong support for the significant package of 
the veteran's bills that we considered in the House both yesterday and 
today.

[[Page E717]]

  As the former Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee (2001 
through 2005), I am acutely aware of the challenges our veterans face, 
especially as they transition from military to civilian life. As 
Chairman, I authored more than a dozen laws to expand health, 
education, job training and homelessness benefits for the men and women 
who served in uniform. Thankfully these laws continue to help our 
veterans today.
  Still, there are new problems and new issues that urgently need our 
attention. Massive wait times, forged documents by VA officials, 
ineptitude, lack of equipment and under-staffing at VA medical 
facilities are just a few of the significant transgressions that have 
been exposed and are undermining the quality of service and the 
treatment our veterans receive.
  In 2014 and 2016 Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and 
Accountability Act (P.L. 113-146) and the Faster Care for Veterans Act 
(P.L. 114-286), respectively, to usher in a complete overhaul of VA 
systems and to institute new technological services for scheduling and 
in order to secure more timely appointments. Some, but not nearly 
enough, progress has occurred. Much more must be done.
  I commend Chairman Phil Roe, MD and his team at the Veterans Affairs 
Committee on the package of bills before us this week. All seven will 
help improve the benefit programs and the delivery of healthcare 
service for our veterans.
  For instance, The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act 
of 2017 (H.R. 2288) will empower veterans who have been denied benefits 
to have more options as they pursue their appeals. Under the new bill, 
vets will be able to waive a hearing and submit additional evidence, 
pursue a hearing and submit additional evidence, or transfer the 
jurisdiction of their case to the Board of Veterans Appeals. The new 
options should help cut through some wait time.
  The VA Scheduling Accountability Act (H.R. 467) would require an 
annual certification of compliance with scheduling directives. 
Additionally the bill blocks awards and bonuses to any leadership 
personnel at any medical center that fails to comply with the 
scheduling directives. Another bill before us, H.R. 1005 would allow 
the federal government to enter into agreements with state veteran's 
homes to pay for adult day health care for certain eligible veterans.
  The No Hero Left Untreated Act (H.R. 1162) will create a one year 
pilot program at the VA to use innovative therapy to treat veterans who 
suffer from invisible wounds, which include post-traumatic stress 
disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma, chronic 
pain, or opiate addiction. As the author of the Veterans Health 
Programs Improvement Act (P.L. 108-422) which authorized regional 
veteran polytrauma centers for multiple injuries including TBI, I fully 
support H.R. 1162 as a way to ensure that the VA is able to adapt to 
the newest and best practices for treating veterans with these unique 
traumas and conditions.
  The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2017 (H.R. 1725) will 
require stronger reporting requirements from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs regarding the necessity for in-person disability examinations; 
and the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017 
(H.R. 1329) will increase the cost-of-living-adjustment for disabled 
veterans who receive compensation to equal the same rate of increase 
for citizens who receive Social Security in 2018.
  Finally, the VA Prescription Data Accountability Act (H.R. 1545) will 
help combat drug addiction among our veterans by creating better 
information and data sharing between the Department of Veterans Affairs 
and the states' recording programs.
  Mr. Speaker, let me remind my colleagues that while this package of 
veterans bills marks another step forward, we cannot be lulled into 
thinking that the Department of Veterans Affairs and the delivery of 
veterans' benefits and healthcare will be forever fixed simply with the 
enactment of new legislation, no matter how well written.
  Good legislation is the necessary, minimum first step. But equally 
important is the full and consistent implementation of the new laws, 
along with regular and aggressive oversight by this Congress. We must 
be vigilant and continue to push to ensure that all veterans get the 
care they have earned--at the time they need it--not months or years 
later.

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