[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 188 (Thursday, November 29, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7216-S7217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Department of Veterans Affairs

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to discuss the 
Department of Veterans Affairs and this Department's continued 
challenges with properly implementing the letter of the law.
  As we know, the VA has faced significant difficulties and change over 
the past 5 years--issues that have spurred Congress to act. In this 
Congress we have passed multiple pieces of legislation designed to 
reform numerous policies, from accountability to education under the GI 
bill to transforming healthcare.
  Recent news has put a spotlight on the VA struggles to implement the 
Forever GI Bill Act, which has resulted in delays or improper 
accounting of veterans' earned educational benefits. Financial problems 
with their earned benefits is unacceptable and causes an unnecessary 
strain on veterans as they pursue higher education. It is critical that 
the VA fix this problem. This should not be a matter of ``if'' but 
``when'' the VA fixes this issue and provides accurate earned benefits 
to deserving veterans. Based upon these struggles of implementing the 
Forever GI Bill Act, I have concerns that similar challenges will occur 
in the implementation of the VA MISSION Act, which was signed into law 
in June of this year and is the most transformative legislation for the 
VA healthcare system in over 30 years.
  We are closing in on a 6-month mark before the VA MISSION Act must be 
implemented. June 6, 2019, will be when the new community care program 
under this act takes effect. This law requires several major critical 
reforms to the VA healthcare system. I want to quickly outline some of 
the biggest changes that the VA is required by law to implement.
  First, the VA must establish new eligibility criteria for veterans to 
receive care in the community, and that criteria must be based on 
clearly defined, easy-to-understand access standards. The VA must 
establish and apply quality standards to make certain that all VA and 
community care facilities are providing our veterans with the highest 
level of care--the care they deserve.
  The VA must create thorough and reliable processes for the VA and 
community care partners to coordinate care for a veteran who is 
receiving care in the community to make certain that the burden is no 
longer on the veteran and accountability is instead on those

[[Page S7217]]

who are charged with providing the care.
  The VA must start to plan and properly project their healthcare 
expenses. This requires the VA to establish a well-vetted strategic 
planning document that better forecasts healthcare demands and what the 
VA and the community can supply to our Nation's veterans.
  I certainly understand how large of an undertaking this is. 
Implementation of the MISSION Act, while it is important, is also a 
challenge. There are many within the VA who share our desire to 
transform the VA's healthcare system so it can continue to provide care 
for veterans for generations to come. There are many at the VA who want 
to see this done well and done right, but I do know it will take time. 
Change is not something that occurs in a day or a month or even a year, 
and the changes required here are fraught with difficulty if not done 
the correct way.
  The key to making certain that change is taking place is how you 
respond to those difficulties. The VA leadership can learn from the 
past and change the culture and complacency and excuses. We no longer 
should be asking why but why not.
  The VA will be testifying next week on the status of the VA MISSION 
Act implementation before the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs 
Committees, and I will be there. I urge them to hold nothing back, to 
tell us clearly where they anticipate struggles, and that they in no 
way sweep anything under the rug so they make certain we know the 
challenges they are facing and so that we then can help them in the 
solutions.
  Without real change within the VA, we cannot hope for real change for 
our veterans. We cannot afford to fail them any longer or in any 
additional circumstance.
  The American people, Congress, and the President have charged the VA 
with a daunting mission, but it is a mission that is so worthy--to 
provide our veterans, those who have served our Nation, with a VA that 
is worthy of those veterans' service.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.


                       Honoring Our Armed Forces