Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) spoke on the House floor in favor of the Veterans Access to Care Act (H.R. 4810), a bill on which she was an original co-sponsor.
The bill would require VA to offer non-VA care at the department’s expense to any enrolled veteran who cannot get an appointment within VA wait time goals or who lives more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility, among other provisions. Since the bill came to the floor under a procedure prohibiting amendments, Brownley requested the Chairman and Ranking Member work with her to make additional improvements as the bill continues to move forward.
“I strongly support this bill, but believe that we can make it even better. For those of us who represent urban areas like Southern California, we all know that 40 miles can take the better part of a day to traverse back and forth,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “That is why I believe that we must take into account not only the distance travelled, but also the amount of time that it takes for veterans to travel to the VA.”
Parts of Congresswoman Brownley’s district in Ventura County and Los Angeles County are less than 40 miles away from the West Los Angeles Medical Center. However, it can still be a three-hour drive roundtrip because of traffic.
To view her remarks on the House floor, click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z-6ZKkt_8Y
Issues: 113th Congress, Veterans' Affairs