PRINTER'S NO. 1502
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
247
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MIHALEK, RYAN, READSHAW, MALONEY, HEFFLEY, BARRAR,
O'MARA, BERNSTINE, KAUFFMAN, MILLARD, DIAMOND, F. KELLER,
METCALFE, DEASY, HELM AND MOUL, APRIL 25, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 25, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Memorializing the Congress of the United States to facilitate
and ensure implementation of the VA Maintaining Internal
Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of
2018 by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania is committed to giving coordinated and specialized
physical and mental health services to veterans in all regions
of our Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs (DMVA) has reported a veteran population in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of nearly 800,000, the fourth
largest veteran population in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau has indicated a
projected population of 803,420 Pennsylvania residents who have
served in the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA), in its duties to provide for the health and well-being of
Pennsylvania veterans, is failing in the timely delivery of the
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quality of care these veterans deserve; and
WHEREAS, On June 6, 2018, the President of the United States
signed S. 2372 (115th Congress), the John S. McCain III, Daniel
K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems
and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (the
VA MISSION Act of 2018)(Public Law 115-182, 132 Stat. 1393); and
WHEREAS, More than 30 military and veterans service
organizations across our nation expressed support for this
legislation; and
WHEREAS, The act reforms the VA medical care system through a
new and consolidated Veterans Community Care Program; and
WHEREAS, To better serve Pennsylvania's veterans, the act
authorizes the VA to enter into community provider agreements
relating to DMVA facilities such as the Delaware Valley
Veterans' Home, Gino J. Merli Veterans' Home, Pennsylvania
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Southeastern Veterans' Center and
Southwestern Veterans' Center; and
WHEREAS, The act further authorizes family caregiver services
for all veterans who incurred a serious injury or aggravated a
serious injury while on active duty; and
WHEREAS, Family caregiver services previously extended only
to veterans with serious injuries incurred on or after September
11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, As part of an information-sharing process
established under the act, community care providers would
conduct safe opioid prescribing practices at veterans
facilities; and
WHEREAS, Establishment of an integrated system requires
access to the highest quality of health care within the VA
system and in our communities; and
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WHEREAS, Establishment of an integrated system requires
timely action and systemic review; and
WHEREAS, Establishment of an integrated system requires
publication of appropriate standards, access to walk-in care and
innovations in delivery of services and processing of claims;
and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania expresses its support for the letter and spirit of
the act; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
United States to facilitate and ensure implementation of the VA
Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated
Outside Networks Act of 2018 by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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