RICHMOND, VA – On Thursday, February 23rd, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), along with Bruce Voigt, Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Bill Barksdale, Assistant Director of the Roanoke Regional Office for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, J. Ronald Johnson, Executive Director of the Richmond VA Medical Center, Mike Cullins, Assistant Chief of Engineering Services of the Richmond VA Medical Center, and Rita Charles, Manager of the Richmond VA Medical Center Community Care Program, hosted a Veterans’ Roundtable in Richmond, Virginia. The purpose of this roundtable was for Congressman Wittman to hear directly from First District Veterans and give veterans the chance to share their concerns and have their questions answered directly from representatives. Following the roundtable, Congressman Wittman stated:
“I came to Washington to be an advocate for Virginians – and this includes connecting constituents with resources available to them and cutting through red tape. Our nation’s veterans made great sacrifices for our country, and we must ensure they are receiving the care and benefits they deserve. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with our veterans about the challenges pertaining to their benefits and how I can continue to fight in Washington to improve their quality of care through legislation and constituent services. I am especially grateful to the representatives from the Veterans Affairs and the Richmond VA Medical Center who came to speak directly with the attendees. Virginia’s First District is home to many of our nation’s veterans, and I look forward to our continued work together to improve their care, benefits, and opportunities as they rejoin civilian life.”
Congressman Wittman has introduced several pieces of legislation in the 118th Congress to support veterans and ensure they receive the care and benefits they deserve, including:
BRAVE Act: Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a patient outreach system where it will ensure that veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have experienced a traumatic or highly stressful event may elect to receive information and resources relating to mental health care.
Veterans Collaboration Act: Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out a two-year pilot program in states with the highest veteran populations to promote collaboration between the VA, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher learning.
Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures with DOD Doctors Act: To include a single comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed Forces.
To stay updated on Congressman Wittman’s work in Congress to support veterans issues, click here.
To view photos from the roundtable, click the attached images.
For information on how to apply for Veterans Affairs health care, click here.
To view your Veterans Affairs claim or appeal status, click here.
