WASHINGTON –U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, applauded passage of the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act, known as the VA MISSION Act for short. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 92 to 5. 

The VA MISSION Act improves the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) current healthcare delivery system and helps provide veterans with more choices and fewer barriers to care. 

As Boozman noted in a floor speech in advance of the vote, for veterans in largely rural states like Arkansas, it allows easier access to healthcare. “The service options provided in this bill will give veterans who live far from a VA facility and need frequent follow-up care easier access to local providers and walk-in clinics,” Boozman said.

The VA MISSION Act also improves the VA’s ability to hire high-quality healthcare professionals, expands VA caregiver benefits to veterans of all generations and creates a process to evaluate and reform VA facilities so they can best serve veterans. It also includes funding for the Choice Program so veterans will have access to care while we transition to an easier-to-use community care program. 

The legislation is headed to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.