July 25, 2017

Ranking Member Walz Statement Following VA Choice Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after legislation to temporarily extend funding for the VA Choice program failed to pass out of the House of Representatives.

“If Republican House Leadership stuck to the bipartisan principles for which the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has come to be known, we could have easily passed this legislation the first time and veterans would not be left in the lurch,” Rep. Walz said. “Unfortunately, the House Majority did not build the necessary consensus among Democrats, Republicans, and our nation’s well respected veterans service organizations, who almost unanimously opposed this legislation, to pass the bill.”

“Democrats deeply value the feedback of key stakeholders like the VSOs, we take their concerns seriously and we will make sure their perspectives are taken into account when we take up similar legislation soon enough.”

“At this time, the Senate is close to an agreement that would pass in both the House and the Senate. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the Senate to find a bipartisan solution so veterans in communities across the U.S. do not see their access to community care cut off.”

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