Gordon Votes For Improvements In Veterans Care

August 1, 2008, WASHINGTON – Furthering his efforts to improve health care and benefits for veterans and military servicemembers, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon voted for bipartisan legislation to expand access and strengthen care at veterans’ medical facilities.

“The VA provides much needed care for 5.8 million patients, including more than 300,000 men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Gordon. “Our veterans have bravely answered their country’s call to service, and we should honor them by providing top-notch health care and the benefits they have earned.”

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the funding bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs today (Aug. 1). The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The bill aims to increase enrollment at VA medical centers and bolster maintenance at VA facilities. It would strengthen mental health care for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and it would provide veterans with advanced prosthetics to help those who have lost limbs.

The bill would increase gas mileage reimbursement from 28.5 to 41.5 cents per mile to help veterans traveling from rural areas to VA facilities, and it would boost military construction so U.S. troops will have better housing, health care and training facilities.

Major veterans groups, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America and AMVETS, have endorsed the bill.