Speaking in Support of the VA MISSION Act

Jackie nice thank you, mister Speaker. Today I rise to speak as a Co sponsor of the mission act and I appreciate the work of monroe and ranking member walls and putting this built together. This bill is almost unanimously supported by the veteran service Organization community. I'm proud to Co sponsor. This legislation because it will and act needed reforms to the veterans choice program and finally extend benefits to family caregivers for veterans of all eras. I'm pleased that the Committee retain Provisions that Center Sullivan of Alaska and I've fought for that would recognize the unique access issues for States that lack eighth full service, Va hospital when I, like, will continue to fight for improved and expanded facilities at our Manchester new hampshire see it's important to recognize that we have unique challenges in new hampshire where we do not have a full service hospital also wanna speak to the Expand the caregiver benefits provided to post nine 11 veterans to veterans of all eras necessary and long overdue. I've heard repeatedly from granite state veterans Affairs prior to the global war on terror that the differences and benefits are simply unfair. The way these benefits are currently structured essentially pits veterans against veterans and that is unacceptable. It thank chairman row for working with us and finding a way forward for family caregiver benefits and I'm sure thousands of granite state veterans will agree Free while this bill and bodies the kind of bipartisanship put five partisanship for which are Committee is well known, it is not perfect, as the ranking member of oversight and investigations subcommittee, I've believe. It's important to acknowledge parts of the bill that will need continued oversight and I remain committed to ensuring that the follows through in a manner that the hits the fits the veterans. They serve number one asset infrastructure, review portion of the bill is promising, but I have concerns that it would be insufficient to accomplish its goals the is in Need of improved facilities and a realignment of facilities to better serve veterans need in my own state of new hampshire, the veterans of the North country must rely in the choice program rather than have a easy of access to services. They would prefer I'm encouraged by the continued work to improve our existing facilities, but granite state veterans need more and I hope this bill will further empower the to expand services in Manchester and across our state. Recent experience has shown that Ability to accurately assess the needs of the veterans population is in doubt and I remain committed to ensuring that the campaign and accurate picture of veterans needs, especially veterans living in rural America too often our veterans in rural America and seen promised infrastructure expansion, stripped away from them and I urge the community to continue to work with us to keep the honest with that a yield back. thank