News from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Steve Buyer, Ranking Republican Member
Washington, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 5014 to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make the determination that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care constitutes minimal essential coverage under the health care program established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“The 417-0 vote clearly refutes a number of misguided assurances,” said House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer.
“It refutes assurances by the Obama Administration that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provided protections for veterans. It refutes assurances by House Democrat leadership that the bill was not flawed, and it refutes media reports that my concerns and efforts to protect the VA health care system were false alarms.”
“Clearly the bill was deeply flawed otherwise this corrective measure would not be necessary. The Democrats knew it and yet they jammed the legislation down the throats of America’s veterans and tried to depict anyone who opposed it as a fear monger and obstructionist. I find this shameful, and I am glad that today’s vote vindicates my actions.”
Over the past year, Buyer, made every possible effort to ensure that the VA health care system would remain independent of other government bureaucracies.
Buyer’s efforts included introducing an amendment and a stand-alone bill, H.R. 4894, to protect VA from interference by other government agencies administering the various authorities contained in the massive Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“I am pleased that my House colleagues finally recognized the importance of ensuring that our nation’s veterans are not subject to arbitrary and uninformed decisions by bureaucrats who do not understand or appreciate the solemn mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Buyer said. “While today’s vote is welcome, it should not have taken this long and it should not have been necessary to press the majority to take action to protect those who protect us.”
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