[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14994-14995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       VA CHILDCARE PILOT PROGRAM

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, a Department of Veterans Affairs survey 
found that over 10 percent of our veterans had to cancel VA medical 
appointments due to lack of child care.
  Today, the House will consider H.R. 3596, which will extend the VA 
childcare pilot program that is scheduled to expire this year.
  This initiative has been a tremendous success in western New York. 
Last year, more than 1,300 children visited Kids Korner at the Buffalo 
VA Medical Center, helping hundreds of veterans keep their 
appointments. The program has been especially useful in the treatment 
of post-traumatic stress disorder, which requires regular counseling 
and recurring follow-up appointments.
  While I am grateful that Kids Korner will be extended for another 
year, Congress should do more. I urge my colleagues to support 
legislation introduced by Congresswoman Julia

[[Page 14995]]

Brownley to make the program permanent and allow VA hospitals across 
the country to establish similar programs for veterans that they serve. 
Making child care available to patients who need it is a cost-effective 
way to improve health outcomes for veterans to whom we owe so much.

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