Editorial: Working For Our Veterans

“And too often the difficulties veterans face at VA facilities are due to negligence or incompetency.”

Submitted Editorial

Last week I supported and the House of Representatives passed multiple measures aimed at helping our nation’s veterans. H.R. 1367 gives the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) more power to hire and retain the best physicians to provide care for our veterans.

Many of my constituents have told me that once they are able to obtain an appointment at the VA, they are mainly generally with the care they receive.

This measure ensures that we continue to give discretion to Secretary Shulkin to hire physicians who are passionate about providing care to our veterans.

However, the problems at the VA have not disappeared. And too often the difficulties veterans face at VA facilities are due to negligence or incompetency.

I continued my commitment to hold VA employees accountable by supporting H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act. This bill provides the VA with the ability to fire employees who repeatedly fail to do their jobs at the expense of the veterans they are supposed to serve. 

Additionally, I supported H.R. 1181, the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. This measure ensures no veteran will lose their Second Amendment rights without due process.

While we will never be able to truly repay or veterans, we must work to ensure that every veteran receives proper care and support.

The 21^st Congressional District is home to over 60,000 veterans, current members of the military and their families. And I am constantly working to improve the services and care provided at the VA facilities in San Antonio and Kerrville.

If my office can ever be of assistance with questions or concerns regarding veterans’ benefits, please contact my office.

Sincerely,

Lamar Smith

Member of Congress