July 28, 2014 

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District, Ranking Member of the House Veterans Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, issued the following statement on the Veterans’ Affairs reform package announced today by Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Representative Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
 
Included in the omnibus package are three bills introduced by Titus.

H.R.4942, Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act, increases veterans’ access to timely care by adding more medical residency positions at VA hospitals in communities, including Nevada, which are facing a significant physician shortage. 
 
H.R. 2527, Military Sexual Assault Parity Act, extends counseling and treatment to members of the National Guard and other reserve components who suffered sexual trauma while serving on inactive duty training. 
 
H.R. 3441, Spouses of Heroes Education Act, amends the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to expand the Fry Scholarship to include surviving spouses of members of the Armed Services. This scholarship currently provides full in-state tuition, fees, a monthly living stipend, and a book allowance to children of service members who have died in the line of duty. This change will allow spouses to receive the same benefits.

"This legislation is an important compromise that will help increase accountability within the VA and reduce unacceptable wait times for our veterans,” said Titus. “Internal audits have shown that the number one barrier to providing veterans with timely access to care is the lack of providers. This is especially significant for areas like Nevada, which face the greatest physician shortages. To address this problem, the compromise includes my bill, the Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act, which will not only help meet the immediate need within the VA system but also take an important step toward alleviating the long-term, nationwide physician shortage. My other two bills address critical issues of fairness and compensation for service members and their families.
 
"The legislative package introduced today is critical for our nation's veterans and their families. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to approve it without delay."