WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, respectively, today applauded the Senate passage of the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R.3236).

Last month, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a budget shortfall of $2.6 billion. The Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act addresses this gap by providing flexibility in existing funding to allow VA to transfer $3.348 billion from Veterans Choice funds for care provided at non-VA facilities. In addition, the bill creates a path for reforms to consolidate all of non-VA care programs into one – the Veterans Choice Program. Both Isakson and Blumenthal were key to ensuring these reforms were part of the final legislation.

“This legislation addresses the VA’s budget shortfall by reorganizing money they already have to better meet the needs of veterans,” said Isakson. “This bill will bring private sector services to our veterans without hindering the services they already receive from the VA. Choice is a force-multiplier for VA health care, and I thank my colleagues for the work they have done to ensure that veterans receive the health care they deserve.”

“Today’s vote is an important, interim step, but now Congress must find a path forward that includes meaningful reforms to existing care options, ensuring a strong health care system for our veterans,” said Blumenthal. “I look forward to working with Chairman Isakson and committee members on both sides of the aisle to continue improving VA by increasing access to care. Further changes to care in the community must be done in a bipartisan, thoughtful way to ensure the best care possible for veterans.”

Yesterday, Isakson discussed the importance of this bill on the Senate floor. You can watch Isakson’s remarks here.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 114th Congress.

Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate VA Committee since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the military as well as more than 750,000 veterans.