Arkansas's Second Congressional District is home to many of our brave veterans and service members at Little Rock Air Force Base and Camp Robinson, and I am committed to ensuring that our veterans, service members, and their families receive the care and benefits they have earned and deserve.

I recently joined Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR) in a meeting with VA Secretary Shulkin and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe in Northwest Arkansas to discuss two of the biggest issues facing the VA - its lack of accountability and inability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of veterans. For this reason, I voted in support of S. 1094, the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, which passed the House on June 13, 2017, by a vote of 368-55. This bill institutes necessary reforms at VA by providing the Secretary with the authority to remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee, including Senior Executive Service (SES) employees, for performance or misconduct.

Further, the House passed H.R. 2372, the Veterans Equal Treatment Ensures Relief and Access Now (VETERANS) Act on June 15, 2017, and H.R. 2288, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, on May 23, 2017. H.R. 2372codifies a Department of Treasury regulation that allows veterans who are eligible for, but do not elect to be covered by, certain VA health programs to qualify for current law premium assistance tax credits. H.R. 2288 streamlines the benefits appeals process at VA by providing veterans more options.

Too often we have heard horror stories about the treatment of our Nation’s veterans that have led to delayed care and even death. These bills are an important step in changing the culture at VA and ensuring that those serving our veterans are held accountable for their actions and operate in a way that always puts the veterans first.

Although we have taken important steps to support our veterans, there is still much more that we must do in Congress to fulfill our promise to our Nation's veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and with the new administration to address these important issues. 

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill