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Mast Testifies Before VA Committee on Bill Encouraging Congressional Offices at VA Facilities

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Wounded Warrior Project Endorses The Improving
Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act

The Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing today on U.S. Congressman Brian Mast’s (FL-18) legislation, the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act, to streamline the opening of the Congressional offices inside Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities across the nation. [Read more…] about Mast Testifies Before VA Committee on Bill Encouraging Congressional Offices at VA Facilities

Mast to Testify Before VA Committee on His Legislation Encouraging Congressional Offices at VA Facilities

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MEDIA ADVISORY

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) will testify before the Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 to advocate for passage of the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act.  His bipartisan legislation will streamline the opening of Congressional offices inside Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities across the nation.  The introduction of the bill followed Rep. Mast’s opening of the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA this past January.

WHO:
Rep. Mast
Members of the Veterans Affairs Committee

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
10:00 a.m.

WHERE:
334 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20003

*A live stream will be available for Florida press here.

WHAT:
Rep. Mast opened the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility in January.  Through this office, veterans from around the area have improved access for assistance with any VA-related issues.  The office is located in room 1A-366 of the West Palm Beach VA. 

Since the opening of the VA office in January, many other Members of Congress have asked Rep. Mast about the process to open his office so that they can replicate the service for veterans at their local VA facilities.  Unfortunately, opening the office took more than a year of navigating bureaucratic red tape.

The Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act would cut down on this bureaucracy by requiring the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit a Member of Congress to use a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of meeting with constituents of the Member.  Moreover, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop regulations regarding the use of VA office space by Members of Congress, mandating that the space be made available during normal business hours and in a location that is easily accessible to the Member’s constituents.

Mast Introduces Legislation Encouraging Congressional Offices at VA Facilities

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Mast Opened First-Ever Office Inside VA Facility

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast today introduced new legislation to streamline the opening of Congressional offices inside Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities across the nation. The introduction of the bill, called the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act, follows Rep. Mast’s opening of the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA this past January.

“Serving veterans in our community is not only deeply personal to me, it’s also the most frequent request that I get as a Member of Congress,” Rep. Mast said. “Opening the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA hospital has allowed us to help veterans on the spot: when and where they’re having an issue. Every single Member of Congress should do the same at their local VA and this bill will pave the way to make that high level of service a reality for our veterans.”

Since the opening of the VA office in January, many other Members of Congress have asked Rep. Mast about the process to open his office so that they can replicate the service for veterans at their local VA facilities. Unfortunately, opening the office took more than a year of navigating bureaucratic red tape.

The Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act would cut down on this bureaucracy by requiring the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to permit a Member of Congress to use a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of meeting with constituents of the Member. Moreover, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop regulations regarding the use of VA office space by Members of Congress, mandating that the space be made available during normal business hours and in a location that is easily accessible to the Member’s constituents.

Read the text of the bill here.

BACKGROUND

Rep. Mast opened the first-ever Congressional office inside a VA facility in January.  Through this office, veterans from around the area have improved access for assistance with any VA-related issues.  The office is located in room 1A-366 of the West Palm Beach VA.

The office is staffed jointly by the West Palm Beach area Congressional delegation on the following schedule:

Rep. Brian Mast – Mondays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rep. Lois Frankel – Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rep. Ted Deutch – First Wednesday of the Month: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings – Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Veterans may call ahead to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are taken on a first come, first serve basis. Veterans may also receive assistance at any of our other offices at any time.

Congress approves seven new VA facilities in Florida

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The U.S. Senate late last night unanimously approved legislation authorizing seven new major VA medical facilities in Florida.
The legislation, approved by a voice vote yesterday, included language originally sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) authorizing the General Services Administration to execute 28 new leases for major VA medical facilities around the country, including seven in Florida.
The new Florida facilities will be located in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa, Lakeland and two in Gainesville.
“We have a duty to care for the brave men and women who have served in our nation’s military,” Nelson said. “Getting these seven new VA clinics opened here in Florida will make it easier for some of our veterans to access the care that they need.”
By law, Congress must approve any U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs lease that would result in an average rental payment of more than $1 million per year. Congress has not authorized a major VA medical facility lease since 2014.
The legislation authorizing the new Florida facilities was included in a broader veterans’ health care bill, known as the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017, which the Senate approved yesterday. The measure, which was approved by the House last week, now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
Here’s the list of Florida facilities and the amounts authorized for each: 

  • A replacement outpatient clinic, Daytona Beach, Florida, an amount not to exceed $12,198,000.
  • A new outpatient clinic, Gainesville, Florida, an amount not to exceed $7,891,000.
  • An outpatient mental health clinic, Gainesville, Florida, an amount not to exceed $4,320,000.
  • A replacement outpatient clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, an amount not to exceed $18,623,000.
  • A replacement outpatient clinic, Ocala, Florida, an amount not to exceed $5,026,000.
  • A replacement mental health clinic, Tampa, Florida, an amount not to exceed $13,387,000.
  • A replacement outpatient clinic, Lakeland, Tampa, Florida, an amount not to exceed $10,760,000.