At the young age of 18, I raised my hand and took an oath to serve my country, then spent more than five years in the Navy as a cryptologist. But for me, that oath has no expiration date. It’s a lifetime commitment. And that’s why I’ve continued to serve my country in many other ways, including fighting for my fellow veterans.
I’ve also been an Army spouse for the past 20 years, serving by my husband’s side. Our family, like countless military families, has endured multiple deployments to dangerous corners of the world. We’ve had an empty chair at many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. We’ve celebrated birthdays and milestones without him. And spent sleepless nights praying Dad would come home just as he left.
These sacrifices did not deter my children from military service; they may have inspired them. My daughter joined the Marine Corps, my older son is in the Army and currently deployed, and my younger son will become a soldier early next year. I’m proud that my children have continued our family’s long tradition of service.
And the fact that they will one day be veterans and need care from the Veterans Health Administration is what inspires me in my efforts to see it reformed. I want my husband, children, and other veterans to have the best care possible. Right now, that’s not what the VA is delivering.
Since 2014, there have been numerous scandals at VA hospitals around the country: Reports of veterans dying while waiting for care; unsanitary facilities; doctors and staff providing inadequate care and over-prescribing opioids.
These stories have shocked our nation, and many organizations and politicians have demanded reform at the VA. Unfortunately, despite billions of dollars in budget increases, change has been slow and veterans continue to suffer from delayed and substandard care.
Recently however, Congress and VA Secretary David Shulkin have made strides in improving accountability at the VA. Now they should turn their full attention to improving healthcare choice for veterans.
The Veterans Health Administration has struggled in the face of our changing veteran population and is unprepared to respond to the needs of today’s veteran. But a new proposal, theVeterans Empowerment Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, would make critical reforms to the Veterans Health Administration to better serve our veterans’ diverse healthcare needs in the twenty-first century.
Notably, the Veterans Empowerment Act would create the VetsCare Program, which would enable veterans to choose to receive care outside the VA system from private-sector providers (just as Medicare and Tricare do). Veterans who like the care they receive within the system can continue to be cared for at the VA. What’s most important is that the VetsCare puts veterans, rather than VA bureaucrats, in control of their healthcare.
The status quo is unacceptable. Expanding healthcare choice for veterans is a policy idea that receives overwhelming support from veterans and nonveterans alike.
This legislation will not solve all the problems at the VA, but it’s a huge step in the right direction. If the Veterans Empowerment Act becomes law, it will bring about genuine reform so we no longer fail our veterans. And America can finally uphold its promise to “care for him who shall have borne the battle.”
Congress should act now to empower veterans with healthcare choice.
Shannon Hough is a Navy veteran and the special projects manager for Concerned Veterans for America.
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