Veterans issues too important to wait
Rep. Dan Benishek
Home to more than 70,000 veterans, Northern Michigan understands how important it is to support those who have fought for our freedom. We line up to cheer our vets in parades, and we volunteer throughout the year to help meet their basic needs.As the proud father of a veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible support offered by our communities.
As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Veterans Health, I believe we can do even more for those who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Our veterans have done so much for our country, and I believe even more can be done to embrace that selfless spirit that our nation’s heroes have bravely displayed.
To help achieve that goal, I’m announcing the Veterans Action Initiative, a comprehensive program and legislative agenda to provide wide-ranging services to veterans and to find solutions to the challenges they face.
Our veterans have questions, and I’m devoted to making sure that they get the information and the help they need. That’s why I’ll be holding a series of Veteran’s Benefit Fairs throughout Northern Michigan in the coming months. I’ll be bringing experts and representatives of various veterans’ organizations to talk through issues, answer questions, and connect veterans with the help that they’ve earned.
I’m also proud to announce the expansion of the Michigan’s First District Veterans Advisory Council, a group of veterans from all age groups and service branches that meet with me regularly. The council allows me to stay connected with the needs of the veterans on the ground and to develop innovative new solutions to the problems they face.
Over the next two years, I’ll visit all VA facilities and major veteran service organizations in Michigan’s First District and will maintain regular contact with all local VA officials. In addition, I will hold a series of “Hearing from our Heroes” roundtables to give local vets an opportunity to express their concerns about what’s happening in Washington and to provide me with their solutions.
Last year, as Michigan’s only member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I was honored to play a role in the important progress that was made on getting veterans off waiting lists and into exam rooms. However, there is so much work left to be done.
The legislation we wrote to end long waits for VA care was only the first step towards my ultimate goal of allowing every veteran to choose whether to receive healthcare within the VA or from a local provider.
As a doctor who worked both at the VA and in the private sector, I’m certain that the VA will only be improved by competition.
Bureaucratic incompetence is unacceptable, especially when it comes to veterans’ health, which is why I’ll be reintroducing my legislation to institute real accountability at the VA.
My bill applies to the VA a commonsense principle that every worker already knows: if you don’t do your job, you are going to get fired, and I’m committed to seeing that this legislation is signed into law.
If you’re a veteran and you’d like to be involved in my Veterans Action Initiative please reach out to my office in Washington at (202) 225-4735. Our veterans deserve our steadfast support, and I’m looking forward to making real progress on the issues that matter to our returning heroes in the 114th Congress.
