Bill Text: NJ ACR161 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to permit by law veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-06-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [ACR161 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR161-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 161
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 9, 2014
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SAMUEL L. FIOCCHI
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to permit by law veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging Congress to pass a law that permits veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
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, H.R. 4759, introduced recently, directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which eligible veterans may elect to receive hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities; and
Whereas, Under the bill, the Secretary of the VA must submit a report on the success of the pilot program and any recommendations for extending or expanding the program; and
Whereas, United States military veterans 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, A veteran should have the opportunity to decide whether to receive care at a VA facility or at a facility not affiliated with the VA; 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 a law that permits 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 a law that permits veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than the facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
