Pelosi Statement on House Passage of VA Compromise

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after the House approved the bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation to reform and strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs by a vote of 420-5:

"We owe a sacred promise to the men and women who have served our nation in uniform: that just as the military leaves no one behind on the battlefield, we will leave no veteran behind when they come home. Our veterans were willing to give everything to serve our country and protect freedom around the world. Now, we must do everything we can to serve them.

"The bipartisan, bicameral agreement passed by the House today will help ensure that all our veterans have access to the health care and benefits they have earned. With this legislation, we will hire more doctors and authorize new clinics, strengthen support for military sexual assault survivors, honor the sacrifices of the families of the fallen, and empower veterans to access higher education at in-state tuition rates. We will provide the overwhelmingly confirmed VA Secretary Bob McDonald with new tools to increase accountability, and reassert our expectations for the quality and access of care.

"As more than a decade of conflict comes to a close, we must remember that endless war abroad has costs here at home. We cannot think incrementally about how to better serve these veterans – we must continue to think entrepreneurially to address the transformations we need. This legislation represents an important step forward in that effort, and with it, we will continue our vigilance on behalf of our nation's veterans. "

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