Today, Rep. Henry Cuellar voted for the passage of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008.  Congressman Cuellar successfully collaborated with the Appropriations Committee to add a provision in the report language of the bill to address the issue of increasing veterans’ access to healthcare across South Texas.

On March 13, 2007, Cuellar sent a letter to Rep. Chet Edwards, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.  In the letter, Cuellar proposed language to be included in the bill that would improve inpatient care for the veterans of South Texas.  Cuellar continued to examine the status of veterans’ healthcare and look for ways to increase access to quality healthcare through meetings with Rep. Edwards and Rep. Bob Filner, Chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. 

“I want to thank Congressmen Edwards, Filner, Solomon Ortiz and Ruben Hinojosa for their partnership and hard work to treat our veterans with the respect they deserve.  Together, we have worked to bring attention to the growing need for adequate healthcare options for our veterans,” said Cuellar.

The bill appropriates a total of $109.2 billion for military construction and veterans programs, including:

• $37.1 billion for veterans’ health programs, which is a $3.1 billion increase over the current level

• A transfer of $15 million to the Defense Department/VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund.  The funds will be used to improve the continuity of health care for veterans.

• $4.1 billion for the operation and maintenance of veterans’ hospitals and other medical facilities

• $41.2 billion in mandatory spending for veterans’ compensation benefits and pensions.  This will allow 3.2 million beneficiaries to receive compensation benefits and provide pension payments for over half a million veterans with disabilities.

“The Military Construction/VA spending bill provides the largest single increase in the 77 year history of the Veterans Administration.  It is a major victory and is being endorsed by all of the major veterans’ organizations,” said Cuellar.

“Increasing access to quality healthcare services is a duty we owe to the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces.  They deserve to receive the best medical services close to home.  As the spending bill moves through Congress, I urge my colleagues to preserve this provision,” said Cuellar.

The following is the text of the addition to the report language of H.R. 2642 that will benefit the veterans of South Texas:

House Report 110-186 - MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2008

Far South Texas Inpatient Care- The Committee notes that the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) report recognized inpatient access gaps existed in various locations, including the Valley-Coastal Bend market in Texas. The CARES solution was to recommend that the Department use existing authorities and policies to contract for care to improve access to inpatient care in this market. It has come to the attention of the Committee that this solution has been less than optimal. Accordingly, the Secretary is directed to review the CARES recommendation for the Valley-Coastal market, and report to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on all options available to address the inpatient access issues facing this market's population, including the feasibility of new hospital construction by February 1, 2008.

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees in the 110th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip.
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