06/27/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/27/2022 18:52
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC), and John Thune (R-S.D.), along with SVAC Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following joint statement announcing their collective opposition to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission process moving forward in the Senate.
The statement, led by Chairman Tester, Senators Manchin and Rounds signifies the end of the AIR Commission. This announcement stops the recommended reduction in services at VA facilities in Hot Springs, Sioux Falls, Sturgis and Wagner.
"As Senators, we share a commitment to expanding and strengthening modern VA infrastructure in a way that upholds our obligations to America's veterans. We believe the recommendations put forth to the AIR Commission are not reflective of that goal, and would put veterans in both rural and urban areas at a disadvantage, which is why we are announcing that this process does not have our support and will not move forward. The Commission is not necessary for our continued push to invest in VA health infrastructure, and together we remain dedicated to providing the Department with the resources and tools it needs to continue delivering quality care and earned services to veterans in 21stcentury facilities-now and into the future."
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