WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) took to the House floor urging quick action by the House and called out the continuing partisanship, and game-playing, around what should be a bipartisan issue: “San Diegans want to see action and they want it now. They are rightly dumbfounded that Congress continues to play partisan games, instead of passing the Senate's comprehensive solution -and beginning to provide some relief for our nation's heroes.”

Rep. Peters is pushing for movement on the “Veterans Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014.”

The Senate passed the legislation -- which was authored on a bipartisan basis by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) -- last month on a 93-3 vote. It provides a comprehensive and immediate response to ongoing failures at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and will benefit thousands of veterans by increasing their access to care and increasing accountability on staff at VA facilities nationwide.

“It is no secret that the Department of Veterans Affairs has failed our veterans, and it is time to start fixing the problems,” Rep. Peters said on the House floor. “The more than 200,000 veterans who live in San Diego County deserve access to the medical care and benefits that they have earned.”

In his remarks, Rep. Peters highlighted part of the Senate bill that expands in-state tuition rates to veterans using GI Bill benefits, regardless of their state of residence: “Expanding in-state tuition to our veterans, regardless of where they live, would expand their educational options significantly, and potentially reduce the financial burden many of them face.”

He was joined on the House floor by Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-07) who spoke out against failures at the Phoenix VA facility and highlighted the benefits of in-state tuition for veterans.

To watch Rep. Peters’ opening remarks click 

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For his closing remarks click

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