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Source: Congress.gov
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Good morning. A quorum being present, the Committee on Veterans Affairs will come to order. Without objection, the chair may declare a recess at any time. There are meetings this morning to consider, we're meeting this morning to consider 25 important bills and two lease resolutions pending before the committee. I'm going to keep my remarks short to leave plenty of time for discussion on each of these bills. and amendments being offered. There are a number of bills on the agenda here today that are a product of bipartisan negotiations, and I am pleased to see our staff working together in such a productive manner for our veterans and the American people. I think this committee functions best when we work together to serve our veterans and do not let partisan bickering overtake the ideas. In that spirit, the ranking member and I have come together on a package of bills to improve the process for veterans and survivors to appeal claims. I am hopeful that these bills will shorten wait times for veterans and speed up the decisions before the board. I'm also pleased to consider legislation to improve the process of for veterans who seek to receive health care within the community. I now yield to the ranking member for his opening remarks.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I concur with your message of bipartisanship. Of course, we stand our ground where we must, but we seek common ground where we can. I'm pleased to let you know that I plan to speak on individual bills, so I'm happy to proceed to the business of this markup, and I yield back. Thank you, ranking member.
The text was circulated in advance and pursuant to committee rules without objection. The first reading is dispensed with. The bill is now open for amendment at any point. I now recognize myself for the purposes of offering amendment in the nature of a substitute. The clerk shall report the amendment in nature of substitute.
I ask unanimous consent that any further reading of the amendment in the nature of substitute be dispensed with. I ask that it be considered the base text for the purpose of this markup, and without objection, so ordered. I now recognize myself for five minutes to speak in support of the amendment and the nature of a substitute. The Veterans Access Act strengthens and promotes the Veterans Community Care Program. It picks up where the Mission Act and Choice Act started. Many of us members remember the waitlist scandal of 2014. It is clear now as then, veterans deserve health care choice. Community care is VA care. This bill would not privatize VA. I'll say that again. This bill would not privatize VA. 14 year veterans groups, 14 veterans groups and the veterans they represent stand behind this bill. Time and time again, veterans tell us about the roadblocks to their legal right to community care. Their stories demand action. The Access Act delivers. This bill for example, would prevent bureaucracy from fudging wait times. A lawsuit revealing that employees who scheduled appointments at VA misrepresented dates of patients' requests. A sleight of hand made wait times look shorter on paper, but it was a cook the books operation that harmed veterans. And our bill would do even more to empower veterans choice.
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