Democratic lawmaker lambastes omnibus bill as 'harmful' attempt to privatize veterans health care

Democratic lawmaker lambastes omnibus bill as ‘harmful’ attempt to privatize veterans health care
By LINDA F. HERSEY STARS AND STRIPES
• June 7, 2024

WASHINGTON — An omnibus bill to increase community services for disabled and aging veterans and their caretakers was attacked by the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee as a thinly veiled attempt to privatize health services and drain dollars from the Department of Veterans Affairs. “House Republicans have hijacked a historically bipartisan, bicameral process for veterans’ packages, to push their main priority of privatizing VA health care,” Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said about the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Sponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the bill has 21 Republican co-sponsors. No Democrats have signed onto the bill.


But Takano said the scope of the new legislation needs to be scaled back or it will lead to further erosion of support for traditional VA programs. The bill, which was introduced May 14 in the House, is sweeping legislation that contains provisions from 22 bills that support veterans’ health benefits and services in community settings and at home. Takano described the bill as a “harmful privatization package” that is expensive and not fiscally responsible. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of the bill will be $942 million through fiscal 2026.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2024-06-07/veterans-affairs-legislation-private-care-disabled-14111798.html