Senator Scott Votes to Cut Red Tape and Increase Access to Care for Veterans

Washington– U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) today voted to continue reforms at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), cutting through red tape and increasing access to care for veterans.

Scott said “Our veterans deserve the best care possible, and I am pleased we took another step forward in reforming the VA and improving access to care for those who served our nation so bravely. I will continue working to keep our promises to South Carolina’s veterans in Washington.”

The Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act passed the Senate by a vote of 91-4, and will now head to the President’s desk. In addition to extending the nation’s transportation funding for three months, it helps veterans by:

• Improving access to care by consolidating non-VA provider programs into a single program known as the Veterans Choice Program.
• Expands access to the Veterans Choice Program by increasing the number of eligible providers and eliminating an artificial timeline for veterans to sign up for the program.
• Fills a large funding gap at the VA to help provide for veterans’ care