WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the floor of the U.S. House today, Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) announced his support for the “Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014.”

This bill, of which Representative Huelskamp is a co-sponsor, would achieve much-needed reforms to the scandal-plagued Veterans Administration (VA). The agreement would achieve policies long-sought by Rep. Huelskamp including the expansion of non-VA healthcare access, extending the ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home) pilot program in Kansas, authorizing the VA to fire or demote bureaucrats for poor performance or misconduct, and reducing funding for VA bonuses available to VA employees by $40 million each year through FY 2024. Following his speech, Representative Huelskamp issued the following statement:
“As a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, I have spent the better part of three years asking tough questions of the VA and demanding transparency, accountability, and more health care choices for our Veterans. The culture of non-accountability, retaliation, and intimidation we uncovered at the VA is shocking. The secret waiting lists and outrageous bonuses are unconscionable—and its impact on our Veterans unforgivable. With this bill, we can provide a solution to these problems by enhancing choice for our Veterans and increasing accountability of the VA.

“This bill begins the process of restoring the VA to its true mission to serve our Veterans. It includes common sense reforms I have long sought:
· Allowing Veterans in rural areas or who have waited on the VA for more than 30 days the option to stay in the VA system or receive their care closer to home.
· Issuing a “Veteran Choice Card,” not unlike Medicare, for Veterans to receive care in their local communities – a reform I proposed to the VA two years ago.
· Providing an extension of the ARCH pilot program, which has proved successful here in Kansas.
· Reducing the outlandish bonuses and the incentive to scheme the VA scheduling system.
· Creating an independent Commission to provide external accountability and expertise to impose necessary cultural change on the VA.
· Providing VA accountability by allowing for poor-performing bureaucrats to be punished or fired when they fail at their job.

“We are now on the road to passing the most important piece of legislation for rural Veteran care in recent decades. As this bill is implemented in the coming months and years, I will continue to fight for Kansas veterans and demand the VA treat our veterans with the respect and honor they deserve.”