Jack Kingston

It is important for the American people to know the numbers relevant to the House Democrats 1,018-page “Americas Affordable Health Choices Act”, H.R. 3200. All Americans deserve access to affordable healthcare; however, the answer to high healthcare costs does not lie with government involvement, increased regulation, or mandates. In fact, those steps often depress the efficiency of programs and create additional costs. The video below shows just a few of the ways this bill will impact the American people if passed.

This weekend, Jack participated in the groundbreaking for a Veterans Memorial on Tybee Island and WTOC was there to cover it.  Click here to see the video.

Photo: Carl Elmore/Savannah Morning News

What began as a big idea from a small group last year, has turned in to an annual event to remember those who’ve given their lives.  As reported in today’s Savannah Morning News, Wreaths for Warriors Walk has begun its work to place a wreath at each tree along Warriors Walk on Fort Stewart.  To learn more, click here to read the article or click here to visit Wreaths for Warriors Walk’s website.

Today we remember all those who served and all those who continue to serve our Nation.  Thank you for your service. 

From the Department of Veterans Affairs: 

Patient Centered Care - Putting Concepts into Action!

VISN 7 Town Hall

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

12:00 Noon

Dublin VAMC Auditorium

or call 1-800-767-1750 Access Code 48341

The VA Southeast Network is hosting a unique virtual Town Hall Meeting to discuss our transformation to Patient Centered Care.  Veterans and VA Staff are invited to attend the meeting hosted by the Deputy Under Secretary for Health and Operations Management, Mr. Bill Feeley and the VISN 7 Network Director, Mr. Larry Biro. 

The VA Medical Centers and Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama are continuing to build a foundation with a strong patient centered care focus.  Our objective is to provide care that considers each patent’s cultural traditions, personal preferences and values, family situations, and lifestyles.

Patient Centered Care

·        Makes the patient/their loved ones an integral part of the care team.

·        Encourages patients and their loved ones to collaborate with health care professionals in making clinical decisions.

·        Ensures that transitions between providers, departments, and health care settings are respectful, coordinated, and efficient.*

To enhance this transformation, the VA Southeast Network will host this unique call with veterans and VA staff.  Mr. Feeley and Mr. Biro will talk with veterans and staff about this transformation and will announce a new assessment tool which will allow each facility to measure their progress towards the key concepts associated with Patient Centered Care.  

We hope to have hundreds of participants on the call.  If you have questions or comments during this call, you may email these to Laura Krejci at laura.krejci@va.gov.  Mr. Feeley and Mr. Biro will address as many of the questions as possible during the meeting. 

If you are interested in learning more about this initiative, please contact your facility Customer Service Coordinator, Sue Preston at ext. 2730.

Thank you for your participation in this important call.  Thank you for helping the VA Southeast Network become leaders in Patient Centered Care, and help us keep our promise to ENSURE EVERY VETERAN IS PERSONALLY SATISFIED!

HISTORIC VETERANS LEGISLATION PASSES THE HOUSE
Congressman Kingston praises increased funding for medical services, new facilities

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a veterans funding at historic levels.  Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1), a member of the House Appropriations Committee which drafted the measure, praised the passage of the bill.

“With the tenth-largest population of veterans, this funding is crucial for the First District.  From record-setting funding for medical services that will address new areas of need to additional resources that will help break the logjam in claims processing, this bill is essential to honoring the service of our brave troops,” Congressman Kingston said.  “My office has always had a strong emphasis on supporting our veterans and we are honored to have so many in our district.”

The bill, which passed the House today by a vote of 409-4, provides $47.7 billion for veterans’ medical care, claims processors, and facility improvements.  It is an increase of nearly $5 billion over last year’s funding and nearly $3 billion over the President’s request.

Medical services, which receives the majority of funding, provides focus on enrolling currently uninsured veterans, substantial investments in mental health and substance abuse, assistance for homeless veterans, and new generation prosthetics.  It also fully funds the increased travel reimbursement for veterans who must drive long distances to access the health care.

“As the needs of our veterans evolve, so must the system which provides their care,” said Congressman Kingston.  “Our troops provide our nation with world class service and we should provide them with world class health care.”

The bill also provides $5 billion in funding for ongoing maintenance and renovations of existing facilities to address identified shortfalls and to ensure the Department’s facilities remain capable of performing their duties.  In addition, the bill provides $1.9 billion to fund the recommendations made by the Capitol Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES).

“The construction section of the bill provides funding for the new Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Hinesville and Brunswick,” Congressman Kingston said.  “Both of these should be opened within a year and will provide relief from long drives many veterans must face to receive their care.  While securing funding for these facilities was a great success, I’m still pushing for a clinic in Waycross and will continue working with the VA to get that done.”

Other veterans funding contained in the bill includes $165 million for extended care facilities, $87.8 million to provide for oversight activities including inspections of veterans facilities, and $55.5 million for the care and operation of our military monuments and cemeteries around the world.

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It’s been roughly 145 days since the House passed a critical spending measure -the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill (H.R. 2642)- and 62 days since the Senate passed the bill.

President Bush has indicated he will sign the bill when it comes to his desk, but the Democrats apparently can’t have that. Instead this week they attempted to attach the VA bill to the Labor-HHS bill which President Bush has stated he will veto because of excessive spending. Yesterday Senate Republicans split it back into two separate bills. The Senate then sent back the Labor-HHS bill back to the House but not the VA bill. What about the VA bill? We don’t know.

So now we are coming up on Veterans Day and we still have no funding bill because Democrats prefer to play games. Our veterans deserve better.