Legislation would require VA to operate at least one full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire
Manchester, NH - Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, introduced the Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act, legislation that would require VA to operate, at minimum, one full-service Veterans Health Administration hospital within each state in the contiguous 48 states. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is leading companion legislation in the Senate. U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve, are cosponsors of the legislation in their respective houses of Congress.
“Our veterans have each put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and they ought to receive the care and benefits they have earned after their service. Unfortunately, New Hampshire veterans are not on an equal footing with those in other states. New Hampshire still lacks a full-service VA hospital, meaning our veterans may not have access to, or may need to travel long distances for, essential care. My legislation would finally right this wrong,” said Congressman Pappas. “I have fought to prevent the closure of Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, reduce the backlog of cases at VA, and ensure that toxic-exposed veterans are finally receiving the help they need. I will continue my work to strengthen veterans’ health care by pushing for a full-service hospital for New Hampshire veterans who deserve the highest quality care and services.”
“Every freedom and right we enjoy today was paid for with the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in the military—the least we can do is ensure veterans can access first rate health care no matter where they live,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our bill would help more Granite State veterans access the health care they deserve by helping establish a full service VA hospital in New Hampshire—the only state in the continental U.S. without one."
“America’s best deserve our best, which is why it’s past time that New Hampshire veterans have a full-service VA facility in our state,” said Senator Hassan. “I have a record of advocating for a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support this bill and help us uphold our commitment to our veterans.”
“We have a sacred obligation to the tens of thousands of women and men across New Hampshire who served our country in uniform. They put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and it’s my mission in Congress to ensure these brave American heroes have access to the full range of healthcare they need,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “This bill is an important step in this mission.”
"The New Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars fully supports the Veterans Full-Service Care and Access Act. We believe the Act will enhance veterans' access to quality care and offer greater flexibility in choosing providers, ensuring veterans can access care whether at a VA facility or through community providers,” said AJ Corrow, NH VFW Legislative Chairman.
Background:
New Hampshire is the only state in the contiguous 48 states to not have a dedicated, full-service VA hospital.
An Executive Order issued by President Trump on May 9th instructed VA to begin a feasibility study on expanding services to support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire within 30 days and submit an action plan to the President within 180 days.
Following the issuance of the Executive Order, Pappas led the New Hampshire delegation in a letter calling on VA Secretary Doug Collins to seriously and fully follow through on the feasibility study and action plan, with the goal of establishing a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire. He also secured a commitment from VA Secretary Collins at a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing to engage with New Hampshire veterans and stakeholders as the Department conducts the study and develops its action plan.
As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen has worked tirelessly to make health care more accessible for New Hampshire veterans and has long worked to secure federal funding for VA health care sites throughout New Hampshire. The first piece of legislation she introduced in Congress was the Veterans Health Equity Act in 2009, which would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every state has a full-service veterans’ hospital or that comparable services are provided by contracting with in-state hospitals.
Senator Hassan is working to get New Hampshire veterans the care and benefits that they have earned and deserve. Senator Hassan raised the importance of building a full-service veterans hospital during the confirmation hearing for VA Secretary Doug Collins. Additionally, Senator Hassan has been pushing the VA for answers about its plans to fire 80,000 VA employees and the ways in which that would harm care and benefits for veterans. Senator Hassan also helped develop and pass into law the PACT Act, which fundamentally reforms and improves the ways in which veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA. To date, more than two million PACT Act-related claims have been filed and over 200,000 veterans have enrolled for VA health care under the PACT Act.
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