Bill Text: NJ ACR14 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass legislation allowing veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 26-8)
Status: (Passed) 2016-10-20 - Filed with Secretary of State [ACR14 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-ACR14-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 14
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman SHEILA Y. OLIVER
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Pinkin, Assemblymen DeAngelo, McKeon, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblymen Space, C.A.Brown, Assemblywoman Lampitt, Assemblyman Singleton, Assemblywoman Gove, Assemblymen Rumpf and Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass legislation allowing veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Concurrent Resolution urging Congress to pass legislation that allows veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Whereas, According to surveys, the facilities of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide services to more than 200,000 United States military veterans each day; and
Whereas, Recently, there have been allegations that officials in VA hospitals across the country have manipulated records to cover the fact that veterans suffered unbearably long waiting times before receiving care at a VA facility; and
Whereas, Legislation was recently introduced to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program under which eligible veterans may elect to receive hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities; and
Whereas, Under the legislation, the Secretary of the VA must submit a report on the success of the pilot program along with any recommendations for extending or expanding the program; and
Whereas, Veterans of the United States military have served with honor and dignity, putting their lives on the line for this country, and at a minimum, they deserve timely quality care; and
Whereas, Veterans should have the opportunity to decide whether to receive care at a VA facility or at a non-VA facility; and
Whereas, It is in the best interests of those United States military veterans residing in this State for the Legislature to promote on their behalf access to timely quality hospital care and medical services; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of New Jersey hereby urges Congress to pass legislation to permit veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than the facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from New Jersey in the Congress of the United States, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution urges Congress to pass legislation that allows veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than the facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.