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.