Improving Veteran Access to Quality Medical Care

This country is committed to doing all it can to support our veterans, but we in Congress know many of those systems of support need improvements. I cosponsored the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act to deliver on the Republican commitment to creating a modern, efficient VA for today and tomorrow's veterans. This legislation gives veterans more choices about where to receive healthcare, including expanding access for severely ill and aging veterans to receive care at home, not an institution. It updates the disability benefit claims process. And, it holds the VA accountable to the taxpayers and veterans they serve. Specifically, it:

• Allows the VA to reimburse long-term Home and Community-Based Services up to 100 percent of the amount that the VA normally funds, whether they are VA institutions facilities or not,
• Modernizes the VA's electronic health record systems,
• Requires the VA to cover emergency care for veterans at non-VA facilities,
• Speeds up the disability claims process by standardizing the Disability Benefits Questionnaires so that they are readable by an automated program,
• Requires a veteran seeking treatment for alcohol or drug dependence is evaluated within 72 hours after submitting a request to the VA,
• Allows veterans on the GI Bill to take only the required courses to graduate,
• Allows the VA to provide grants to state, local, or tribal entities to enhance assistance to veterans and their families by increasing the number of Veteran Service Officers in the area and expanding outreach services to veterans,
• Allows the Family Caregiver Program to authorize mental health grants for caregivers of veterans,
• Requires the VA to report to Congress on staffing vacancies and security weaknesses and data on criminal activities, training, vacancies, and security weaknesses at VA medical centers,
• Expands VA burial benefits to Veterans who passed away at home or a non-VA facility, and
• Modifies VA burial and funeral allowances to allow for payments to be made to surviving dependents of veterans who die while receiving VA-furnished hospice care.

Furthermore, because House Republicans are committed to responsible spending, all of this will be done without adding to the federal deficit.

MilConVA Reauthorization

The House recently passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This bill fully funds veterans' health care programs, veterans' benefits, and VA programs. It bolsters our national security by providing robust funding and increasing resources for the Indo-Pacific region to improve our posture with relation to China. It protects the Second Amendment rights of veterans by preventing the VA from sending information about veterans to the FBI without a judge's consent. It also prohibits the Biden Administration from using federal funds to promote or advance extreme critical race theory as well as the implementation of Biden's executive orders on diversity, equity, inclusion. This refocuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities to protect and defend this nation.

I also sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee to ensure we would not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to fund abortion, something this administration has been working to include in every piece of legislation possible.

It's worth noting the wild and crazy ideas my Democrat colleagues tried to have included in this vital legislation. They tried to add amendments that, among other things, would restrict the Second Amendment rights of veterans, fund gender transition procedures, force the defense community to focus unnecessary energy on extreme climate change policies, and even reimplement a mask mandate. My Republican colleagues and I are committed to the health and safety of our service members and national security.

Bettering Veteran Care in the 7th District

According to the latest census data, we have over 41,000 civilian veterans living in Minnesota's 7th District. And now, thanks to the hard work of the Montevideo community, more of these veterans will be able to live and receive care closer to home in a beautiful and welcoming city. I was honored to speak at the Montevideo Veterans Home dedication last month. In Congress, we are committed to improving and expanding access to quality care. This project is a huge step in that direction, and I look forward to working with the people of Montevideo and the VA going forward.

My Office is here to Help!

My office is here to assist with veteran services. Our team has helped veterans across the 7th District with receiving benefits, navigating loans, and even recovering medals, like we did for Brett Brandon, Retired CW3 US Army, from Middle River, Minnesota:

"I had served in Afghanistan and did not receive a qualifying medal for serving there from my unit in the Army. However, I did receive a Bronze Star which is a medal of higher merit for my service in Afghanistan. I was really disappointed with the decision the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs denied me for the $1200 bonus. The Bronze Star should have been along with all other medals of higher merit be good enough.  The MDVA basically stated that even a person who got the medal of honor or purple heart for service in Iraq or Afghanistan would not qualify for the $1200, if they did not have one of the lesser medals mentioned above. The only way could qualify for the medal is ask the Army Review Board to review my records and grant me one of those medals. I applied to the Army Review Board, however I could not get them to respond to me to even acknowledge that I had applied for one of those medals to be put on my DD FM214. I asked Marty Howes, the Roseau County Veteran Service Officer to help me, which he did by contacting Congresswoman Fischbach's office. Once Congresswoman Fischbach’s office got involved the red tape with the Army Review Board was quickly fixed and Congresswoman Fischbach was able to directly present the medal to me!! I was very humbled and extremely grateful for the work she and her office did for me. I was eventually award the $1200 Veterans Bonus! All of this happened because of Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach."

To see if my office can help you or a veteran in your life, please visit my website or call (320) 403-6100.

Thank you for reading!

fischbach.house.gov

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