Bill Text: NJ SCR23 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

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 4-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-10-20 - Substituted by ACR14 [SCR23 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-SCR23-Introduced.html

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 23

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

Senator JAMES BEACH

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

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 Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly 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 Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the General Assembly 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 which permits veterans to receive hospital care and medical services at facilities other than the facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.