Statement from Congressman Cleaver on VA Expansion of Choice Program Eligibility
Today, Congressman Cleaver released this comment in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs' change to Choice Program Eligibility:
"As an early supporter of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Choice Program, I have worked to expand access to veterans living in Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties and to veterans across Missouri's Fifth District," said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II. "Veterans will now be eligible based on the driving distance to their nearest VA medical facility, not based on an arbitrary straight line on a map. While I applaud the change the VA has made, we must now work to ensure each facility within forty miles of a veteran's home is equipped to provide the services that veteran needs. Our men and women who have served and sacrificed deserve this and so much more."
In his letter to House and Senate Budget Conferees, Congressman Cleaver pushed for this kind of change. He wrote, "Veterans who live in rural settings, like many of my constituents, must drive far distances in order to receive care at VA facilities. Section 301 of H.R. 3230 addresses expanded availability of care to veterans, specifically veterans who reside more than 40 miles from the nearest medical facility. I respectfully request that this language be maintained through your negotiations and strengthened to specify that should the medical facility within 40 miles of a veteran's residence not be specialized in treating their ailment this eligibility would apply to them as well."
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.