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Today, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee’s legislative hearing to discuss potential legislation to enhance public-private partnerships to develop Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, ensure veterans with TBI/PTSD can access proper therapy, expand mental health care, speed up telehealth, and more. A full list of bills on today’s agenda can be found here.

Good morning.

This legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Health will now come to order.

I would like to welcome all the members and witnesses to today’s hearing.

We look forward to a very productive discussion on some impactful veterans’ legislation.

Today, we will discuss twelve bills, including bills which would enable V.A. to enter into innovative public-private partnerships, research cutting edge Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and provide some long overdue oversight of V.A.’s budget management.

Also, on today’s agenda are four bills I have had the pleasure of introducing.

But, before I discuss my bills, I’d like to thank our witnesses again for being here today.

I’d especially like to thank Dr. Andrew Kozminski, who is the Medical Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at my beloved University of Iowa!

I had the pleasure of touring Dr. Kozminski's office a few months ago and learned about the incredible healing properties that Hyperbaric Oxygen therapies can provide.

Dr. Kozminski, welcome to my office! I look forward to hearing your thoughts about Dr. Murphy’s bill, The Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act.

Now to my bills.

First, the SPORT Act.

The SPORT Act would make sure athletic prosthetics are defined as medically necessary for amputee veterans.

Every year in my district, severely disabled veterans gather to play golf. I’m not a big golfer, but it’s amazing to see how sports, even golf, can improve veterans’ mental and physical wellbeing.

I think all veterans should be able to enjoy the benefits and camaraderie sports provide and my legislation would achieve just that.

I am also proud to introduce the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act. This bill would reauthorize V.A.’s successful Fox grant program.

Fox grants enable community organizations to provide services to veterans, screen them for suicidal ideation, and connect them with V.A. so they can receive the mental health support that meets their individual needs.

My bill would ensure organizations who have been successful in our mission to expand mental health can receive additional funds by partnering with V.A. to reach even more veterans.

The Fox grant program is a great example of public-private partnerships working for the better. House Republicans will continue to push the needle and protect programs like this one.

Next, I am proud to lead the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act. This bill would allow V.A. to provide very high-cost medications to severely-disabled veterans receiving care at state veterans’ homes.

V.A. pays for these medications for all other veteran patients, but antiquated laws require V.A. to pay state veterans homes a fixed per-diem, limiting their ability to provide for veterans who desperately need these medications.

Unfortunately, these high-cost medications can cost as much as $1,000 a day, meaning state veterans’ homes are not able to house many of our most deserving veterans.

My bill would fix this clear mistake and ensure veterans with complex needs are cared for.

And, ironically, the last bill I would like to mention is my START Act!

Far too often, our veterans receive community care referrals that are only valid for a fixed period of time. But, due to provider shortages and bureaucratic delays, veterans might not get seen until halfway through that authorized time.

My START Act addresses this issue by ensuring that the validity of that referral begins only once a veteran has attended their initial appointment.

It is a privilege to collaborate on crafting impactful legislation for our veterans and to address critical issues in the delivery of their health care.

These might seem like small things, but the bills we will discuss today are issues that would make real improvements to veterans’ day to day lives. As Chairwoman, that’s exactly what I’m focused on.

I now yield to Ranking Member Brownley for any opening remarks she may have.