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REPUBLICAN PRESS RELEASE

January 17, 2008

VA Subcommittee Considers Measures to Improve Health Care

Washington, D.C. — The Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing today on eight bills intended to ensure veterans receive the highest quality medical care available. Members of Congress, veterans’ service organization representatives, and Dr. Gerald M. Cross, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) testified before the Subcommittee.

“Currently we have over 265 thousand servicemembers deployed overseas in the Global War on Terror. These brave men and women and their families deserve to know that their service and sacrifice will be honored and supported with benefits and health care services tailored to their needs,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Miller (R-Fla.). “I want to thank my colleagues who have brought forth these legislative proposals and for joining us to provide testimony on their respective bills.”

The bills included:

* H.R. 2790, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health, introduced in a bipartisan manner by Representatives Phil Hare (D-Ill.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).

* H.R. 3458, to direct VA to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas, introduced by Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

* H.R. 3819, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007, introduced by Representative Zachary T. Space (D-Ohio).

* H.R. 4053, the Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007, introduced by Representative Shelley Berkley (D-Nev).

* H.R. 4107, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, introduced in a bipartisan manner by Representatives Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) and Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla).

* H.R. 4146, to clarify the availability of emergency medical care for veterans in non-VA medical facilities, introduced by Representative Michael Honda (D-Calif).

* H.R. 4204, the Veterans Suicide Study Act, introduced by Representative Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa).

* H.R. 4231, the Rural Veterans Health Care Access Act of 2007, introduced by Representative Steve Kagen (D-Wis.).

“As we consider these bills, it is important that we keep in mind the importance of developing solutions that are principle centered, patient centered, and complement rather than replicate existing authorities and ongoing efforts,” said Miller. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we approve measures that are reflective of these considerations.”

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posted by Larry Scott
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