{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-delegation-urges-va-to-ensure-reliable-wi-fi-service-at-maine-cbocs", "Congressional Delegation Urges VA to Ensure Reliable Wi-Fi Service at Maine CBOCs", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) to provide all Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Maine with reliable WiFi service. In a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the delegation shares that reliable, high-speed WiFi is critical for continued healthcare service for Maine\u2019s veterans \u2013 and the comfort of the patients seeking care.\n\nThe delegation wrote, \u201cWe are writing to inquire about the status of the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 NEXTGEN initiative to ensure Wi-Fi at all Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Maine. As you may know, none of Maine\u2019s eight CBOCs have public Wi-Fi. Calais and Lincoln have no employee Wi-Fi whatsoever; and Caribou, Portland, Bangor, and Lewiston have limited Wi-Fi for staff. It is clear that Wi-Fi services in all CBOCs will improve staff efficacy and patient experience, medication management, and the ability to utilize a network via laptop to support the PACT model of care, moving from room to room to the patient.\u201d\n\n\u201cTechnology plays a critical role in providing healthcare in Maine, especially given the remoteness of many areas. The need for guest Wi-Fi impacts the veteran experience in VA Maine by limiting the ability to self-check in and do travel benefit forms via the \u201cMy HealtheVet\u201d portal. Internal Wi-Fi would increase time spent with patients and external Wi-Fi would decrease wait times for veterans checking in via their cell phones. Furthermore, access to the internet can be a form of relief for patients and visitors who are in a facility for multiple appointments,\u201d they continued.\n\nThe letter concludes with the delegation asking for a specific implementation timeline and understanding of when WiFi will be installed at CBOCs in Maine.\n\nWhen will each Maine CBOC get Wi-Fi?\n\nWhat is the national timeline for NEXTGEN implementation?\n\nHow does the implementation of NEXTGEN Wi-Fi in Maine compare to implementation in other states?\n\nWhat challenges have you identified to improve the availability of Wi-Fi across all CBOCs, and how are you addressing them?\n\nHow can Congress help ensure a swift rollout of NEXTGEN?\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-delegation-urges-va-to-ensure-reliable-wi-fi-service-at-maine-cbocs"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8897229563444853, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}