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Posey, Bill


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Posey Votes to Improve Veterans Care, Bring Greater Accountability to the VA

Washington, July 30, 2014 -

With the support of Congressman Bill Posey’s (R-Rockledge), the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3230) to ensure that promises made to our nation’s veterans are kept by improving their access to quality health care. The bill also holds accountable VA employees who break the public trust by enabling the VA Secretary an expedited means of firing senior managers who don’t do their jobs or cook the books.

“Keeping our promises to our military veterans is critical and this bill helps put us back on track,” said Congressman Bill Posey. “We must ensure that veterans can access medical care when they need it either within the VA or outside of the VA. We also bring greater transparency and accountability to the VA to ensure that those employees who do not provide quality service to our veterans are held accountable.”

Specifically, the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014:

• Improves Veterans Access to Medical Care by requiring the VA to provide a Veterans Choice Card to any veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system as of August 1, 2014, or who is a newly discharged combat veteran if such veteran is unable to secure an appointment at a VA medical facility within 30 days or resides more than 40 miles from the nearest VA medical facility.

• Holds Bad Employees Accountable by authorizing the VA to fire or demote VA employees for poor performance or misconduct with an expedited and limited appeal process for employees under question. The bill also cuts the funding available for bonuses.

• Brings Transparency Through an Independent Review of VA medical care, and it establishes a congressional commission to evaluate access to care, which will help identify long-term reforms necessary to improve the quality and accessibility of care for our veterans.

“While this legislation is a step in the right direction, it’s just one step among many that we need to make in order to ensure that the promises to our veterans are kept. This bill also takes important steps to improve the transition from active duty,” said Posey.