(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today oversaw a Joint Hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs to hear the legislative priorities of the American Legion.

The following is Tester’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Commander Schmidt, I’m honored to have you and your leadership team with us today.  And I would like to acknowledge Montana Legionnaires Kelly Ackerman and William White, as well as Auxiliary members Lois Schmidt and Jennifer Herman for making the long trip from Montana.  It’s good to see you.

Commander Schmidt, we’re here because Congress should take its cues from you.   The American Legion provides a critical perspective on how our veterans are faring.

The American Legion also provides important services to our veterans and their families.  Whether it’s helping veterans transition, or helping veterans in their communities, the American Legion is there, making a difference.

We hold these hearings because only VSOs—and not partisan political groups or pundits on cable—can help Congress focus its oversight and legislative efforts to ensure veterans have access to quality care and benefits.  That means taking cues from you on how to:

• Hold VA accountable;
• Ensure VA has the capacity to meet the needs of all veterans, and
• Fix Choice and Community care.

On this last point, in a rare demonstration of bipartisanship, Congress enacted the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014.  This legislation sought to bolster the capacity of the VA to better directly serve veterans, and to expand veterans' access to community care when the VA was incapable of providing that care in a timely manner. 

Now, two and a half years later, the VA is confronted with looming and dramatic funding shortfalls and a Choice Program that, at least in Montana, isn’t working.  This is unacceptable. 

I can share dozens of stories from frustrated veterans, family members, and even front-line VA employees in Montana, not to mention community providers in my state and across the country that continue to drop out of Choice Program because of the bureaucracy involved and the time it takes to get reimbursed through this program, about how the Program isn’t working.

We need to fix the Program so it works as intended.

I’m pleased to note that there appears to be agreement among all major veterans groups on a path forward.

Rather than just giving a veteran a card to seek care in the private sector—the path forward is an integrated network of VA and community providers. 

This means VA should continue to serve as the coordinator AND primary provider of care, while the private sector fills gaps. 

I know that the American Legion will be at the forefront of this discussion and will help Congress get to where it needs to be.

Commander Schmidt, again welcome. 

I look forward to hearing your testimony and to collaborating with every Member of Congress to do right by our veterans.  Thank you.