[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12628]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   VETERANS' CLINICS IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge House and Senate conferees 
to send bipartisan veterans' legislation to the President's desk before 
we break for August. This legislation would authorize new community-
based outpatient clinics for Lake Charles, Lafayette, and others around 
the country.
  Our veterans have waited long enough. They have waited since 2008, 
and they have been blocked because of bureaucratic roadblocks. This is 
unacceptable. And now we are even closer to honoring this promise, 
because the House and Senate have passed legislation.
  It is time to act on behalf of our veterans who have served this 
country. If Congress fails to act, we will continue forcing veterans to 
drive hours to Houston or Alexandria, Louisiana, for specialty care or 
even primary care or, even worse, they will be forced to go without 
care.
  This is just unacceptable, and I will not stand until we get this 
legislation done. That is not the standard of care and accessibility 
these men and women deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Jeff Miller for his strong 
leadership on this issue. He has fought beside me and others to get 
these clinics.
  I urge conferees to work together. Put veterans' medical care ahead 
of election-year politics, and let's get this done.

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