(U.S. Senate) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) today strongly endorsed Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan bill to reform the VA’s community care programs.

VFW National Commander Keith Harman called on the Senate to pass Tester’s Caring for Our Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation crafted with Republican Chairman Johnny Isakson to streamline the VA’s community care programs, ensure there are more doctors, nurses and other medical personnel in rural areas like Montana, and expand caregiver benefits to veterans of all eras.

“Our bill will make sure there are more doctors to see veterans when they go to the VA and that when veterans need to go to a local doctor, they don’t have to jump through hoops to get in the door,” said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “But sometimes the VA’s ability to care for veterans is hindered by their own decisions not to invest in its infrastructure or to appropriately staff clinics.  That needs to change, and I will hold the VA accountable for ensuring it is delivering for our veterans in a more timely and aggressive way.”

“The VFW thanks Senator Isakson and Senator Tester for their leadership in crafting a bill [the Caring for Our Veterans Act] that is aligned with the views of our nation’s veterans and incorporates the input of Committee members and VA,” said Harman. “The VFW also strongly supports the full expansion of caregiver benefits to veterans of all eras.”

The VFW is one of 26 veterans and military service organizations to endorse Tester’s Caring for Our Veterans Act. Tester’s bill bolsters the VA’s ability to care for veterans at VA facilities and puts the decision of where a veteran will receive care in the hands of the veteran and their VA doctor.

Today’s hearing is the fourth in a series of joint Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearings in which the nation’s leading Veterans Service Organizations will deliver their 2018 legislative priorities to Congress. More information can be found online HERE.

The fifth and final hearing will be held Wednesday, March 14, at 10:00 AM EST. More information about the entire series of hearings can be found online HERE.