[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     PROVIDING VETERAN HEALTH CARE

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, if your son or daughter, your brother or 
sister was sick and needed care, but couldn't see a doctor for 3 months 
or 6 months or maybe over a year, wouldn't you take immediate action, 
do whatever it took to make sure that they were cared for?
  As we stand here today, over 100,000 veterans--our sons and 
daughters, our brothers and sisters in Hawaii and across the country--
have been waiting months just to see a doctor.
  In Honolulu, veterans wait an average of 145 days, sometimes longer, 
just to see a primary care physician for the very first time. This is 
infuriating to me, and it is unconscionable that our veterans are 
treated this way when they come home.
  Last week, I heard from veterans from across the State of Hawaii, 
from every generation, about their struggles and frustrations in trying 
to receive care from the VA, some coming to me with tears streaming 
down their face as they begged for help.
  These are my brothers and sisters. They are our family, and they need 
help. Immediate action must be taken.

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