Congresswoman Lois Frankel voted today in favor of the House and Senate compromise to reform the Veterans Affairs Administration.  The $17 billion bill comes in the wake of the systemic problems reported at VA health facilities that resulted in thousands of veterans not receiving timely care. The bill now goes to the Senate for approval.

“I am pleased that Congress has come together to take action to fix the VA health care system throughout the country. I am proud of the service given to our veterans in South Florida by our local VAs and hopeful that other communities will soon receive the help that they deserve,” said Congresswoman Frankel.

In addition to $2 billion in non-emergency funding, the bipartisan bill provides $10 billion for veterans to seek private care at hospitals and clinics outside of the VA system. It also allocates $5 billion to enable the VA to hire more doctors, nurses, and medical staff, and to lease 27 new medical facilities around the nation – including one in New Port Richey, Florida.

The compromise bill also allows new VA Secretary Bob McDonald to hold underperforming staff accountable by giving him the authority to immediately fire or demote senior executives when necessary. The bill also takes another step towards addressing the military sexual assault epidemic by expanding VA authority to provide counseling, care and other services to veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation, after California and Texas, with more than 1.6 million veterans – 12 percent of the state’s population over 18. The VA operates six medical centers in Florida. They are located at Bay Pines, Miami, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Gainesville and Lake City. The VA also operates Outpatient Clinics for health care and Vet Centers for counseling throughout the state.

Congresswoman Frankel is the mother of an Iraq and Afghanistan U.S. Marine war veteran.

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