[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1665-E1666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ENHANCING VETERAN CARE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2017

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1266, 
the Enhancing Veteran Care Act.
  I support this legislation because it would establish in the 
Department of Veterans Affairs the capacity to conduct independent 
analysis of the healthcare services provided by the VA to our nation's 
veterans.
  The Enhancing Veteran Care Act would authorize the Secretary to 
contract with nonprofit private healthcare auditors and investigators 
to investigate a VA Medical Center and to then, assess and report 
deficiencies found at the medical center.
  This bill will not vacate the authority of the Inspector General or 
the Government Accountability Office from conducting investigations of 
VA medical facilities.
  Mr. Speaker, the reason this important legislation is needed is 
illustrated by the tragic and heart breaking cases of thousands of 
veterans who were left waiting for care for serious medical conditions.
  The debt that we owe to our nation's veterans is immeasurable. Their 
sacrifices, and those of their families, are freedom's foundation.
  Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, 
marines and Coast Guardsmen and women and their families, our country 
would not live so freely.
  In the State of Texas we have 1,099,141 Veterans under the age of 65 
and 590,618 who are over the age of 65. There are over 1,689,759 
veterans living in our state.
  The 18th Congressional District has 20,607 under age 65 and 9,844 
Veterans over the age of 65.
  Nationwide more than 9 million veterans and their families enrolled 
in the VA health care system in 2014,

[[Page E1666]]

  In the city of Houston, the Michael E. Debakey Veterans Hospital 
Center, serves the health care needs of thousands of veterans and their 
families.
  The Debakey Veterans Hospital Center provides support to veterans and 
their families who are amputees, cancer, spinal cord injuries, 
traumatic brain injury, and have visual impairments.
  The Medical center provides family support services through its 
Fisher House that provides living suites at no cost to family members 
of hospitalized Veterans and military members.
  The devotion and dedication of family members who provide care to our 
nation's wounded warriors should not be forgotten.
  Last month was National Caregivers Month to show our caregivers how 
grateful we are for them.
  Today, 5.5 million spouses, parents, children, and other loved ones 
care for our wounded warriors and 15 percent of caregivers spend 40+ 
hours a week providing care for our military families.
  The wounds of war and the recovery process may be long in healing, 
which is why it is important that as members of Congress we provide 
them with the best healthcare treatment possible.
  I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass S. 1266.

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