Veterans
Keeping our nation’s commitment to those who served and fought to keep America safe and protect the freedoms and values upon which our nation was founded is a national priority.
To properly uphold this commitment, we must improve veterans’ services so that they work better for all those who have served in our armed forces. Any changes to the VA system must result in greater care and benefits – not less.
I will continue working to ensure that veterans have the access to hometown health care and quality services that they have earned.
Improvements must be made so that veterans’ services work better for all our nation’s veterans – and that starts with providing proper funding.
During Congressman Hastings' tenure in the House of Representatives, record levels of funding for veterans services have been provided.
Despite continued funding increases, the current VA health care system is not meeting the needs of veterans in rural areas like Central Washington.
Hastings helped establish an outpatient veterans health clinic in Yakima and most recently moved the VA to open a new clinic in Wenatchee.
Hastings is a supporter and cosponsor of proposals to enable the VA to partner with local hospitals, medical centers and clinics to serve rural veterans who are currently forced to drive too far and wait too long for even the most basic health care.
Click here for more information about veterans' bills backed by Congressman Hastings.
In 2004 Congress approved a historic expansion of concurrent receipt for disabled veterans. As a result, $22 billion in additional retirement payments will be available over the next ten years for an estimated 250,000 disabled military retirees.
New Veterans Clinic for North Central Washington
In 2003, Congress passed a law requiring the VA to develop a plan for meeting the needs of veterans in North Central Washington. This plan called for a new veterans clinic in the area.
Additionally, the VA’s nationwide review of veterans services, commonly known as CARES, identified the establishment of a new Community Based Outpatient Clinic in North Central Washington as a target for priority implementation.
Tom McMillin gives Hastings a personal tour of the new Regional Veterans Memorial
Hastings added language to a veterans spending bill for 2006 demanding answers on the new clinic. The Hastings language required the VA to submit a formal report to help identify and resolve any issues that may be impeding progress on the clinic.
In February 2006, plans for the new clinic were approved and signed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In the months ahead Congressman Hastings personally pressed the VA to make the new clinic a reality as quickly as possible.
The new Wenatchee VA clinic opened its doors in 2007. It provides primary care and mental health services to the estimated 23,767 veterans who live in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas and Okanogan counties.
Congressman Hastings and Senator Patty Murray wrote a law to name the new clinic in honor of local veteran Bud Link.
Click here for the latest information on the new clinic and select Veterans from the issue search drop down menu.
GI Bill
Congressman Hastings voted for the new GI Bill Benefit law that improves and modernizes benefits. The new law increases the maximum monthly GI Bill benefits, allows them for the first time ever to be transferred to veterans’ spouses and children, and provides enhanced benefits for those who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001.
Wounded Warriors Act
Congressman Hastings voted for the bipartisan Wounded Warriors Assistance law that makes common sense improvements to ensure that military men and women have access to the care they have earned, and to help achieve excellence throughout the military health care system.
The law creates a new toll-free hotline for reporting deficiencies at military health facilities, requires a study to identify infrastructure needs, and authorizes funding to support wounded soldiers and their families. It assigns a medical case manager and a patient advocate to each service member receiving outpatient care – and makes sure that these professionals are properly trained.
Improvements are made to the process used to determine if a soldier can return to active duty so that wounded service members are afforded more input into the decision. And, provisions are included to provide those separating or retiring from service with a seamless transition into the VA system.
Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the wartime stories of our nation’s veterans. It is important for future generations to hear the stories of those who have bravely fought to protect our nation and our freedoms. Volunteers interview veterans about their experiences during their service. These interviews are then archived at the Library of Congress. To share your story, volunteer or to learn more about the Veterans History Project please visit their website.
