U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., says high-quality health care for veterans is at the top of his list of priorities.
U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., says high-quality health care for veterans is at the top of his list of priorities. The chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs spoke to leaders of The American Legion at its Washington, D.C., headquarters during a Veterans Planning and Coordinating Committee meeting July 21. Filner thanked National Commander David K. Rehbein and the Legion for aggressively promoting new legislation that will provide VA funding one year in advance. Long sought by the Legion, such funding will help assure timely delivery of VA health-care budgets. Filner said he was unsure of the ultimate fate of hotly debated national health-care reform legislation. “It changes every day, so I don’t want to waste my time speculating about it. Basically, I am here to gather information, not impart it,” he said. He listened to Legion proposals to allow VA to bill Medicare for treatment of veterans with nonservice-connected health issues, and provide VA health care to veterans’ family members. “Now might be a very good time to reintroduce these ideas,” Filner said. The congressman concluded his visit by announcing committee passage of H.R. 3155, the Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act. This legislation would provide “certain caregivers of veterans with training, support and medical care.” It is designed to assist primary caregivers of veterans who require continuous, in-home care and provide stipends for those who have given up their jobs to care for veterans.
- Veterans Benefits