Too often I hear from veterans across Eastern Washington who wait weeks – or sometimes even months – to hear back from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after they submit a complaint. These delays are a direct result of an outdated system that only allows patient advocates, not veterans, to track the claim as it moves through the system.

This makes no sense, which is why I helped introduce the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act this week to empower veterans. Our bill is simple – it creates an online portal where veterans can easily submit complaints and track their status, giving them more control over their health care.

Veterans deserve transparency and answers from the VA. My hope is that this bill will help us take an important first step towards increasing accountability at the VA and creating a system that meets the needs of our veterans. 

CLICK HERE to read the bill.