Legislation seeks to attract top-notch medical talent to veterans' care facilities

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced the Veterans Access to Care Act today, legislation that seeks to expand veterans' access to quality healthcare by helping the Veterans Administration and state veterans' homes recruit more highly-qualified doctors, nurses, and mental health providers to provide services to America's veterans.

The legislation would make veterans' care facilities eligible to hire National Health Service Corps fellows, helping attract recent medical school graduates to careers helping veterans.

Braley said, "The Veterans Access to Care Act will allow veterans' healthcare facilities to hire from a top-notch pool of medical talent committed to practicing in the public interest.  This will improve veterans' quality of care by encouraging the nation's best and brightest young doctors to work in veterans' healthcare facilities.

 

Braley continued, "The National Health Service Corps is a program with a well-established track record of attracting high quality medical professionals who have chosen to give back to their country by serving those who are most in need.  What better group of people to have caring for our veterans, who share this commitment to service?"

 

The National Health Service Corps is a national scholarship program operated by the US Department of Health and Human Services that pays medical school expenses for future doctors, nurses, and health practitioners who agree to work in medically underserved areas after graduation.  Braley's bill would simply add Veterans Administration facilities and state veterans' homes as eligible "underserved areas" in which graduates would be eligible to serve.

Dr. Douglas Steenblock, Director of Mental Health Services at the Iowa Veterans' Home in Marshalltown, approached Braley with the idea for the bill.  Steenblock is himself a former fellow of the National Health Service Corps.

 

Steenblock said, "It can be difficult to attract medical professionals to work in the unique environment of a veterans' facility, particularly those outside of our major metropolitan areas.  The Iowa Veterans' Home Mental Health Department hasn't been fully staffed since September 2010 despite ongoing efforts to hire new personnel.  The National Health Service Corps has proven to be a powerful incentive to recruit and retain quality providers in underserved areas.  It could be easily adapted to do the same for veterans' facilities."

 

The bill introduced by Braley today is similar to a proposal he introduced in 2010.  The text of the bill can be downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/QGP

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Braley Urges Pentagon to Remove Remaining Barriers to Women's Military Service

Military announced review to relax policies last week, but women still face restrictions

 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today urged Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to remove all remaining barriers restricting the service of female members of the US Armed Forces.

 

Last week, the Department of Defense announced that it was revising its Combat Exclusion Policy to allow women to serve in expanded roles in the military.  Braley applauded the move.  However, even with the revisions, women will still be prohibited from serving in combat roles.

 

"The Pentagon's experience in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last decade should forever remove any doubt of the ability of women to serve in military combat roles," Braley said.  "Veterans like Tammy Duckworth, who piloted a combat helicopter over Iraq and earned the Purple Heart and Air Medal for her service, to Leigh Ann Hester, who earned the Silver Star for her valor when her convoy was attacked by Iraqi insurgents, to Iowa's own Alex Jansen, who was awarded the Bronze Star for her service in Iraq, have demonstrated the capabilities of women on the battlefield.  It's time to remove these barriers once and for all and fully acknowledge that women have a place in the military, serving right alongside men."

 

The Pentagon's Combat Exclusion Policy has also had the effect of preventing women from climbing the ranks of military leadership.   In over 200 years of American military history, only two women have been nominated to 4-star command positions.

 

Braley made the request in a letter to Secretary Panetta, the text of which follows.  A copy of the letter can be downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/Qyu

 

--

 

The Honorable Leon Panetta

Secretary of Defense

1000 Defense Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20301

 

Dear Secretary Panetta,

 

I am writing today to commend the Department of Defense for their recent review of the Combat Exclusion Policy restricting the service of female members of the U.S. Armed Forces. While the decision to loosen the restrictions on women serving in combat is a good step forward, the review can and should go further to remove all of the barriers in place.

 

The last decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan has proven that women are more than capable of serving in the combat arms.  Since 2001, despite standing prohibitions on women in combat, a number of American women have distinguished themselves in combat earning numerous military awards.  Female combat pilots, allowed to serve in those roles since the mid-90s, have proven themselves flying sorties in support of operations around the world.  Most recently, Female Engagement Teams in Afghanistan have been a vital part of our counterinsurgency effort to better connect with the female civilian population.

 

The Department's review can and should go further to promote equality by permitting those women who are willing and able to serve in combat roles.  The last decade should remove any question on the ability of women to serve and arguments against their service are nothing more than bureaucratic blustering at its worst. Despite claims to the contrary, one needs only look at the list of promotions by the military services to recognize that advancement to the highest echelons of command is tied to experience in the combat arms.  In the over 200 years of our nation's history, only two women have been nominated to 4-star command positions. To truly ensure equality in our armed forces, women must be allowed to fight.

 

I appreciate your attention to this matter, and look forward to your continued work to reform the Department of Defense to ensure that we have the best fighting force that we possibly can, and that we are not turning away qualified and capable warriors for any reason.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Braley

Member of Congress

 

Cc: Dr. Jo Ann Rooney, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

 

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Washington, DC -- Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today after media reports indicated that House Speaker John Boehner will bring a stand-alone bill to the full House for a vote this week to extend the middle class payroll tax cut through the end of 2012.   Unless Congress acts, the middle class payroll tax cut will expire at the end of February.

 

"I'm encouraged that Speaker Boehner is putting aside partisanship to bring a yearlong extension of the middle class tax cut up for a yes-or-no vote this week.  This tax cut is good for the economy, and it shouldn't matter what's good for the Republican or Democratic party.  This tax cut will put $1,000 back in the pocket of the average Iowa family - Iowans can ill-afford any more political games on this issue.  I look forward to voting on this bill."

In January, Braley wrote to Speaker Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi urging them to work together to extend the middle class tax cut for a full year.

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Braley talked today with FEMA Administrator Fugate on outstanding flood recovery issues  

 

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) spoke with Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate about ongoing flood recovery issues still affecting Cedar Rapids years after the 2008 floods.  The call focused on FEMA's indecision in providing promised support for several flood recovery projects - indecision that could cost the city and taxpayers millions of dollars in lost funding for projects that were initially approved by FEMA but were later cut after work had started.

Braley also pressed Fugate on FEMA's inaction in processing several project funding appeals filed by the city of Cedar Rapids - which the city has been waiting for answers on for nearly a year.

"I had a productive conversation with Administrator Fugate today.  I made clear he was aware that Congressman Loebsack and I had discussed this issue with President Obama on Air Force One two weeks ago, and he assured me that FEMA is getting close to making final decisions on these critical flood recovery projects.  Without making any specific commitments, Administrator Fugate painted an encouraging picture for the city of Cedar Rapids.

 

"I'm cautiously optimistic.  Good news is long overdue, especially considering that four years after this disaster Cedar Rapids is still waiting for answers.  I'll continue working as long as it takes to make sure FEMA keeps their promises."

 

Braley inquired about FEMA decisions regarding debris removal at the Sinclair site and repairs to the city's Water Pollution Control facility.  Both sites initially received funding commitments from FEMA only to have the funding de-obligated after recovery work had begun.  Braley also raised concerns over outstanding program appeals the city had submitted close to a year before.

Braley's efforts follow the long work of Cedar Rapids city officials in engaging FEMA officials with their concerns.  Braley wrote letters to FEMA Administrator Fugate in November and December of last year pressing for answers on these issues, and spoke to President Obama with Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) regarding the issues on Air Force One in late January after the State of the Union.