Dear Members & Friends of VFP#035,
We continue to call for reform of the VA which has been shorted for well over 30 years
in funding required to adequately take care of veterans specific requirements. Just in the
area of records alone there is a huge need for refurbishing the computer system. We
continue to reject harsh attacks by the “Concerned Veterans of America” which has
urged legislation to fire “bad” VA employees and install private administrators, namely
them, to charge high dollar for removing the VA hospital system, a disastrous reform.
We are formulating an action plan to support needed updates and long term investment
in the VA health care system.
Hollis Higgins, Secretary
Spokane VFP#035
—– Forwarded Message —–
From: “Culton, John (Murray)” <John_Culton@murray.senate.gov>
To:
Sent: Friday, June 9, 2017 5:20 PM
Subject: FW: VETERANS: At Oversight Hearing, Sen. Murray Urges VA Secretary to Reject Trump Administration’s Efforts to Move VA Toward Privatization
FYI
Respectfully,
John Culton
Eastern Washington Director
U.S. Senator Patty Murray
10 N. Post Street, Suite 600
Spokane, WA. 99201
Office: (509)-624-9515
Cell: (509)-714-4409
Subject: VETERANS: At Oversight Hearing, Sen. Murray Urges VA Secretary to Reject Trump Administration’s Efforts to Move VA Toward Privatization
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kerry Arndt (Press Secretary) Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Michael Brewer (Deputy Press Secretary)
Press Office: 202-224-2834
VETERANS: At Oversight Hearing, Sen. Murray Urges VA Secretary to Reject Trump Administration’s Efforts to Move VA Toward Privatization
While VA works on a long-term plan to reduce wait times and improve veteran care, the Trump Administration is pushing provisions that would weaken the entire VA system
Sen. Murray: “These moves show a disturbing trend toward downsizing and dismantling this VA, rather than strengthening the system to better serve millions of veterans in communities in Washington state and across the country.”
(Washington, D.C.) – Today in a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) questioned Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin about whether he supports Trump Administration initiatives that would weaken VA in the coming years, moving the agency toward privatization. Sen. Murray, a senior member of the Committee and the daughter of a World War II veteran, is staunchly opposed to dismantling VA and has urged her colleagues in Congress to support a series of reforms to strengthen veteran care. In today’s hearing, Sen. Murray asked Secretary Shulkin about particular provisions that would destabilize the system.
Watch the exchange between Sen. Murray and Secretary David Shulkin here.
In 2014, in the wake of the Phoenix VA wait list scandal, Congress passed the temporary Veteran Choice Act to give veterans who meet certain criteria the option to seek outside care. As the temporary program winds down, Sen. Murray has repeatedly urged her colleagues to strengthen VA and reform community care to better serve veterans in both rural and urban areas. For more on Sen. Murray’s five principles to reform VA care, click here.
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Spokane Veterans for Peace 