[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19135]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



H.R. 5109, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL ACT OF 
                                  2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2000

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise that unfortunately 
because of an important scheduling conflict, I was unable to cast my 
vote yesterday during consideration of H.R. 5109, The Department of 
Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act of 2000. At the time of the 
vote, I was presenting a keynote speech in observance of Hispanic 
Heritage Month, where I highlighted veterans issues as part of a 
discussion of the important contributions of Hispanics in public 
service.
  Had I been able to be present during consideration of the bill, I 
would have voted in support of the bill. This is a bill that I co-
sponsored, strongly supported and voted in favor of being reported out 
of the House Veterans Affairs Committee for consideration on the House 
floor.
  This is an important bill that would improve the personnel and 
administration systems of the Veterans Health Administration, allow for 
necessary construction, and require reports on the effectiveness of the 
Veterans health care system along with the various aspects of Post 
Traumatic Stress syndrome on Veterans.
  The bill is important as it provides revised authority for pay 
adjustments for nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
and requires that nurses are consulted in formulating policy relating 
to the provision of patient care.
  Also, as part of the full spectrum of health care for Veterans, I am 
pleased that the bill provides for special pay for dentists, and raises 
their salaries depending on their training and length of tenure.
  Additionally, the bill provides an exemption for pharmacists from a 
ceiling on special salary rates, and authorizes the inclusion of a 
physician assistant to consult on the utilization and employment of 
physician assistants in VA medical centers.
  Moreover, it is critical that our VA medical facility infrastructure 
is safe and meets the needs of our veterans. Therefore, I welcome the 
authorization in this bill for the construction of major medical 
facility projects across the nation.
  In order to better serve our veterans, this bill also requires the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that a protocol is used in any 
clinical evaluation of a patient to identify pertinent military 
experiences and exposures that may contribute to the health status of 
the patient and ensures that information relating to the military 
history of patients are included in their medical records.
  Most importantly, I commend the authors of this bill for developing a 
pilot program to allow Medicare-eligible veterans to receive care at 
non-VA facilities if they do not have easy access to VA hospitals. 
Accessibility of care is essential to truly meet our nation's 
healthcare commitments to our veterans. This carefully tailored 
demonstration project ensures that care is made more easily available 
in remote locations, while recognizing that primary VA health care 
facilities and services should in no way be comprised.
  Overall, this bill should provide added improvement in health care 
services and benefits to our veterans. With H.R. 5109, we are providing 
important changes and modifications to the VA health care system, in 
order to continually maintain and upgrade the provision of services and 
benefits to our veterans.
  Our veterans have always answered the call to duty. Consequently, 
America must always work to match this dedication by fulfilling our 
commitments to these men and women who have worn the uniform. I 
therefore strongly support this legislation, and I am proud that my 
colleagues joined in unanimously passing this bill.

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