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Today, Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared at the start of the subcommittee’s field hearing entitled, “Beyond the City Limits: Delivering for Rural Veterans,” to examine the role of technology in delivering wraparound VA healthcare services to rural veterans in Illinois – and across the country.

Good morning. The Subcommittee will come to order.

I want to start by thanking Ranking Member Budzinski for welcoming us to Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. I appreciate her hospitality and her commitment to veterans in central Illinois and across the country.

I would also like to thank the University of Illinois and the Chez Veterans Center for hosting us and all the staff at the University that helped make this hearing possible.

My name is Tom Barrett, and I have the honor of representing Michigan’s 7th Congressional District in Congress. I am proud Retired Army Aviator and currently serve as Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

We’re here today, far from the halls of Congress, because our oversight responsibilities don’t stop in Washington, D.C. It is important for Congress to continue that work in the communities where our veterans live, where care is delivered, and where the real impact of VA systems and decisions is felt every day.

The mission of the Technology Modernization Subcommittee is to make sure that VA is buying, using, and developing the right information technology in order to deliver the best care and services for our veterans.

Technology plays a huge role in delivering VA care to rural veterans because VA simply cannot give veterans all the care and services they need at traditional brick-and-mortar facilities.

This topic is personal to me. Having served 22 years in the Army and building a family in rural Michigan, I know firsthand the frustration veterans feel when the care they’ve earned is out of reach simply because of where they live.

That’s what today is about, making sure rural veterans aren’t left behind.

The reality is: veterans in rural communities face serious barriers to accessing VA care.

Nearly one-third of VA-enrolled veterans live in rural areas.

They drive longer distances, wait longer for appointments, have fewer providers to choose from, and deal with limited broadband and transportation options.

However, each community is different and rural veterans do not all have the same experience with VA.

This is why I am glad the Ranking Member and I were able to take our subcommittee on the road and talk to you all, where you live, and learn about what specific challenges you face.

One of the most important tools that exists for rural veterans is the Community Care program.

Community Care allows veterans, especially those in rural and underserved areas, to see outside providers when brick-and-mortar VA facilities can’t meet their needs.

Community Care is VA care and millions of veterans rely on it every year.

Having used Community Care personally, I know there is room for improvement.

I want to ensure every veteran watching this hearing knows that they only need to meet one of the several criteria to qualify:

if VA does not offer the service needed,

if there is not a VA facility in the area,

if the VA cannot schedule an appointment quickly enough or close enough,

and if Community Care is in the veteran’s best medical interest.

Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Bost, whose district is not too far south of here, this Committee is working hard ensure that rural veterans are able to make their own choice on whether community care is the right option for them if they are eligible.

In addition to Community Care, VA has many other resources that are important for rural veterans including telehealth, mobile medical units, and much more.

Technology has a big role to play here, and that is where this subcommittee comes in.

There are a lot of exciting opportunities for technology to drive better VA care and services in rural areas.

A great example is the External Provider Scheduling system, which allows VA staff to see real-time appointment availability and book directly with community providers.

While is it only active at around 50 VA medical centers currently, it has empowered staff to schedule up to four times more appointments per day by eliminating delays, and confusion.

Another great example is telemedicine.

When it comes to mental health, where isolation is a real risk, tools like tele-mental health and remote monitoring are essential lifelines for veterans who otherwise might fall through the cracks.

But even with these tools, there is room for improvement.

Reports from GAO and the VA Inspector General have shown that rural health programs lack clear performance goals, outreach strategies are inconsistent at the VISN level, and community care referrals still take too long, especially in high-need areas like mental health and women’s care.

Provider participation in VA cellular networks is also lagging, with some rural providers walking away due to red tape, poor communication, or late payments.

We cannot let bureaucracy or outdated processes get in the way of quality and timely healthcare.

This Subcommittee is committed to ensuring that VA’s rural health programs are well-managed, accountable, and truly reaching the veterans they’re meant to serve.

That means cutting red tape, improving access to care, and ensuring every veteran understands their options for quality care.

It also means ensuring the resources are there to sustain proven services and tools, like the External Provider Scheduling system, telehealth, and transportation services.

My goal is to ensure every program is driven by measurable outcomes, that validates better health outcomes not just good intentions.

The bottom line is this: geography should never be a barrier to care.

If a veteran qualifies for VA healthcare, it’s our job to make sure they can get it without delays, without confusion, and without giving up.

I look forward to hearing from you all about how we can accomplish that.

Before, I turn it over to Ranking Member Budzinski, I want to remind everyone here today that this is a Congressional Oversight Hearing. Only Members of Congress and invited Witnesses will be and are recognized to speak. If anyone has specific concerns or issues with the VA, I encourage you to reach out to Ranking Member Budzinski’s District Office, and I am sure her team will be happy to assist you. Thank you.

With that, I yield to Ranking Member Budzinski for her opening statement.