VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- On Veterans Day the nation honors the more than 40 million men and women who have served in the American Armed Forces through the years. Hundreds of people took time Wednesday to salute vets in Virginia Beach.
At the 45th annual Hampton Roads Council of Organizations' Veterans Day parade, there was much to celebrate, but there was also a call for more tangible action on the legislative level to help many of those men and women access the benefits and care they earned while in uniform.
Specifically, concerning the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which has made some progress reducing patient wait times, but vets say it's still not as good as it could be.
"Well you know in my opinion it needs a lot of work," said Marine Corps veteran Duane Trowbridge.
Army veteran Robert Arnold agreed. "The V.A.'s got a long way to go on meeting its burden," he said.
Navy veteran Greg Jenkins weighed in as well. "I think they have a ways to go," he said. "But when they get the right people in there and do the right thing they're going to get the progress that they need to make."
Now, a new bill in Congress offers a fix. The Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act would reduce obstacles, making it easier for the V.A. to boost staffing at health centers and reduce wait times, by making it easier for service members who have served in medical roles to transfer directly into the V.A. system.
Virginia Senator and co-sponsor Mark Warner calls it 'common sense.'
"It will be within an area that provides again, better quality care in a more timely fashion for veterans all across the system," he said. "As they leave the military, we make it as easy as possible if they choose to transition into the V.A. health system. Common sense. These are folks who are familiar with the unique challenges and making sure veterans get the care they deserve."
Warner's bill appears to have solid backing, with five Democratic and two Republican co-sponsors in the Senate, and more than 40 veterans and medical organizations endorsing it.
A companion bill is set to be introduced in the House next week.
Statement from Congressman Bobby Scott on Veterans Day:
"Veterans Day is a time to honor our men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, to demonstrate our appreciation for the sacrifices our veterans have made, and to promote peace so that their sacrifices will not have been in vain."And while we spend this day saluting their service, we must recommit ourselves to ensure that when our veterans return home, they are cared for and are able to successfully transition back into civilian life. We can do this by making sure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is held accountable and has the necessary resources to recruit and hire the best doctors, specialists and nurses to meet increased demand. We must also redouble efforts to assist veterans in accessing employment opportunities through workforce training, expanding work opportunity tax credits for employers who hire veterans, and encouraging veterans to fully utilize their educational benefits to build upon the skills they learned in the military.
So today, we focus our thoughts and prayers on the men and women who continue to stand ready to put their lives on the line for our great nation. We owe them and their families a tremendous debt of gratitude for their sacrifices."
