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WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Readiness, introduced the Accountability, Collaboration, and Transfer (ACT) Now for Veterans legislation, which includes measures to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits claim process and expedite Veteran access to quality care.

“In recent years, Congress has passed major legislation that has gone a long way toward addressing the failure of the VA to adequately serve our nation’s military Veterans,” Wittman said, “but there is still more to be done. Bureaucratic red tape and outdated benefits claim policies have undermined the quality of care that our Veterans receive. The ACT Now for Veterans legislation includes important initiatives that increase efficiency and accountability in the VA and ensure that our Veterans are getting the benefits they have earned and deserve.”

ACT Now for Veterans includes three distinct reform measures. The Veterans Choice Accountability Act (H.R. 3883) would expand Veteran access to Non-VA medical care and establish a review of the VA’s implementation of the Veteran’s Choice Program. The Veterans Collaboration Act (H.R. 3884) would create a VA Pilot Program to foster collaboration between qualified non-profit and educational institutions that provide assistance to Veterans. And the Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures between VA and DOD medical Doctors (H.R. 3885) would require separation physical examinations conducted by military doctors to be used to determine service connected disability and also continue to demand that the VA and DOD share medical and service record data electronically.

“Our Veterans have answered the ultimate call of duty in service of our country,” Wittman continued, “and it is our job in Congress is to make sure that they aren’t being neglected by an overgrown and inefficient VA. I am eager to continue working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to move this legislation forward on behalf of the men and women who’ve been willing to go into battle to protect our freedoms.”

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.

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