Miller Statement on VA Conference Committee Negotiations
Washington, DC,
July 24, 2014
Today, Chairman Jeff Miller released the following statement regarding the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee negotiations. “In the wake of the biggest scandal in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs, I am committed to working in a bipartisan manner with the Senate to send the president a VA reform package that will increase accountability at the department and provide veterans facing unacceptable waits for VA medical care the option to receive private-sector treatment. But arriving at a compromise will be impossible if Senate Democrats refuse to even participate in Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee meetings and negotiations as they did today. “The crisis at VA is not a partisan problem, and I will do everything I can to prevent this from devolving into an exercise in the sort of bickering and name calling for which Washington has become infamous. “Today, we presented a good-faith offer to our counterparts in the Senate. It’s essentially the Senate-passed VA reform bill with authorization for more medical facility leases and a more responsible funding stream that provides both an immediate $10 billion for VA and critical oversight of the department’s future funding needs. I am prepared keep negotiating for as long as it takes to reach a deal, and I hope Senate Democrats will work with me to address VA’s delays in care and accountability crises. In the meantime, America’s veterans and American taxpayers will be waiting.” – Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Related Chairman Miller VA Reform Offer to Senate Democrats July 24, 2014 |