Bill Text: NJ ACR164 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass legislation allowing veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities.*

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-6)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-01-07 - Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading [ACR164 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR164-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 164

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 9, 2014

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblyman  SAMUEL L. FIOCCHI

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

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)

Assemblyman  GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Pinkin and Assemblyman DeAngelo

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges Congress to pass legislation allowing veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at non-VA facilities.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee on June 12, 2014, with amendments.

  

A Concurrent Resolution urging Congress to pass ¹[a law] legislation¹ 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, ¹[H.R. 4759] Legislation¹ 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 ¹[H.R. 4759] the legislation¹, 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 ¹[H.R. 4759 that United States Representative Frank LoBiondo introduced] legislation¹ 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.