Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Chair of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement after the Commission on Care released its final report on transforming veterans’ health care.

“This report, put together by a panel of experts and veterans’ advocates, reiterates what we already know – that the Veterans Health Administration needs fundamental changes in its governance structure to ensure that our nation’s veterans get the care they need. I am encouraged that the Commission embraced this principle and recommended the creation of an independent governing board of directors to guide this transformation, proposed establishing a process for the VA to realign its capital assets in a strategic manner, and urged expanded choices for veterans to select their providers. My draft VA reform legislation embodies these fundamental concepts to create a more veteran-centric system that will ensure better and timelier care for our veterans. I look forward to reviewing the Commission’s report in its entirety and finding additional common ground with veterans’ service organizations on how to empower veterans to get the care they need, when they need it, from a provider of their choosing.”

Note: Section 202 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) established the Commission on Care, which was tasked with developing recommendations for improving the delivery of health care to veterans over the next 20 years. On June 7, 2016, McMorris Rodgers released a discussion draft of legislation, the Caring for our Heroes in the 21st Century Act, which would modernize the way veterans receive health care. Click here to learn more and to read this draft.