Arlington, Va. — Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) Press Secretary John Cooper released the following statement in response to Paralyzed Veterans of America’s multiple mischaracterizations of the Caring for Our Heroes in the 21st Century Act, a historic legislative proposal submitted by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers that would modernize the VA and offer veterans true health care choice:
“The debate over reforming the VA is simple: either veterans deserve true choice or they do not. Paralyzed Veterans of America’s deafening silence in response to scandal after scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and its willingness to attack a member of Congress with the courage to propose real reform, and who is also a military spouse, shows that it clearly believes the latter.
“Paralyzed Veterans of America’s D.C. insider-leadership has made clear that not only will it defend the VA, and its own place in the Washington establishment, at all costs, but also that it is willing to lie and mislead veterans about the solutions being proposed to deliver more timely care to veterans. Criticizing the Caring for Our Heroes in the 21st Century Act as ‘willful ignorance’ is nothing short of ironic, as PVA has done nothing short of lie and attempt to mislead veterans about this proposal, which offers true choice to veterans.
“This proposal modernizes the VA, and preserves its best aspects. Paralyzed Veterans of America’s deceptive language notwithstanding, it offers veterans eligible for VA care the option to continue receiving care at the VA, or empower them to seek outside care if that better meets their needs.
“The membership of veterans’ service organizations like PVA and others continues to decline and march them toward irrelevancy because its Beltway leadership is out of touch with the needs and wants of its own members across the country, who are crying out for the care they deserve. We, along with reform-minded veterans’ groups, members of Congress and veterans and military families across the country, will continue to advocate reforms like this proposal that empower veterans to get the care they deserve. It is time to give veterans choice, and make the VA work for them. Veterans service organizations and members of Congress should do the right thing: support the Caring for Our Heroes in the 21st Century Act.”
To schedule a TV, print or radio interview with a CVA expert, please email press@cv4a.org. For media inquiries or requests for comment, please email CVA Press Secretary John Cooper (jcooper@cv4a.org).
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Concerned Veterans for America is a non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for policies that will preserve the freedom and prosperity we and our families so proudly fought and sacrificed to defend.