[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H4861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING PASSAGE OF THE VA MISSION ACT

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President 
signed into law the VA MISSION Act, which takes a number of steps 
toward giving our veterans the care they deserve. My bill, the VETS 
Act, was included in this larger package. It will allow VA-employed 
doctors to practice telemedicine across State lines.
  The VA already has an extremely successful telemedicine program, 
boasting an 88 percent satisfaction rating, but outdated regulations 
restricted this program from growing to achieve its full potential.
  The VETS Act will now allow VA doctors to utilize telemedicine to see 
patients in any State and any location, including in the comfort of 
their own home. This is especially helpful for veterans who are 
battling post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury who 
have had a hard time traveling to a VA facility or live in rural areas.
  Mr. Speaker, our veterans deserve the best care available to them, 
and the VETS Act is one of the provisions of the VA MISSION Act that 
will advance this care.
  I commend the President for signing this bill into law. Telemedicine 
is better access, better care, and true healthcare reform.

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