Tag: Veterans

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today highlighted the importance of improving the Veterans Choice Program for Montana’s veterans in a letter to President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin.  In the letter, Daines underscored his commitment to working with Shulkin to improve access to timely and quality care for veterans.  “I recently reiterated to Health Net that their performance is unacceptable and have asked for regular updates on their progress,” Daines wrote. “When confirmed, I ask that you to take action immediately to ensure that Montana Veterans are getting the healthcare

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on news that Fort Harrison was downgraded from two stars to just one star in a performance rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  “It’s incredibly disturbing that Fort Harrison is performing far below a level that Montana veterans deserve,” Daines stated. “Clearly, major improvements are needed so that our vets get the best possible care. I’m actively engaged with VA leadership to find solutions to better serve Montana’s veterans.”  This report was from the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016. ###  

 (U.S. Senate) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines introduced legislation today to allow the VA to move forward with expanding its planned outpatient clinic in Missoula. The Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act will authorize the VA to move forward with leasing space in Missoula to expand the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) by 24 percent.  That expansion will allow the VA to see more patients, provide more privacy to veterans seeking care, and better ensure doctors, nurses and medical personnel have the space they need to effectively do their jobs.  “When I visited the Missoula CBOC with Secretary McDonald, I showed

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded unanimous Senate passage of his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to negative behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  The bipartisan amendment codifies the principles of the Hagel memo, ensuring Discharge Review Boards (DRBs) give liberal consideration to petitions for changes in discharge status to honorable if the servicemember has PTSD, TBI or related conditions in connection with their military service. Additionally,

U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines today secured important reforms that increase Montana veterans’ access to health care services and ensures that the services and care earned by Montana veterans through their loyal and dedicated service to the nation is rightfully given to them. Daines successfully worked to include provisions for Montana veterans’ long-standing concerns in the FY 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which was marked up and approved by the Senate Committee on Appropriations this afternoon.  “Montana’s veterans should have easy access to the resources and medical care they need close to home,” Daines stated. “I’m proud to