WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), sent a letter to President Joe Biden voicing their concerns that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) proposed closure of facilities in the state could impact Nevada veterans. The Senators urged the President to refrain from implementing recommendations that could undermine rural veterans’ access to VA health care and provide concrete plans to ensure that their care won’t be interrupted by any potential changes.
“We are deeply concerned that the proposed closure of these VA health facilities would negatively impact local veterans, while also backtracking on the progress Congress and the VA have made over the past decade to improve care for veterans. The proposed changes could increase wait times for critically important medical appointments and increase the distance veterans will have to travel to seek care,” wrote the Senators. “While telehealth is listed as an option for care, some rural communities do not have access to a reliable high-quality internet connection, which could negatively impact access to telehealth.”
“With this in mind, we strongly urge you to closely review the VA’s findings and not move forward with closures that could prevent Nevada’s most vulnerable veterans from accessing the VA health care and services they deserve,” the Senators’ letter continued.
Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto are committed to fighting for our nation’s veterans. Last month, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill they both cosponsored to provide health care coverage for veterans exposed to harmful toxins. Senator Rosen has also introduced numerous bipartisan bills to help Nevada’s veterans succeed in their transition to civilian life, including the bipartisan Veteran Jobs Opportunity Act, Veteran Education Empowerment Act, and Hire Student Veterans Act.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
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