{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://graves.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/bringing-the-va-into-the-21st-century", "Bringing the VA into the 21st Century", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This year I'm wrapping up my first term as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. In the committee I\u2019ve had the opportunity to serve as a voice for our veterans, our military men and women, and all of their families.\nIt is the federal government\u2019s top priority to take care of everyone who\u2019s risked their lives to protect this country. But unfortunately, due to problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Committee has had to work to correct problems that never should have existed in the first place.\nThe VA Inspector General reported that mismanagement, neglect, and possible criminal activity at VA hospitals is \u201csystemic\u201d throughout the VA hospital system. Some of these issues have tragically caused some veterans to die while literally waiting for the care they needed.\nPart of the House\u2019s Better Way agenda is bringing the VA into the 21stcentury, increasing efficiency, changing priorities, and making sure we never hear of stories like these again. Working to reform the VA will be one of the top priorities of Congress with a new Republican administration in the White House.\nAnd I\u2019ve already begun that work. As you may know, the VA recently identified a need for over 26,000 new health care workers.\u00a0At the same time, the VA says that nearly half of all post-9/11 veterans will face a period of unemployment. This is simply\u00a0unacceptable, but I believe these\u00a0are two problems\u00a0we can address\u00a0simultaneously. That is why I\u00a0wrote and\u00a0introduced the\u00a0Improving Veterans Access to Quality Care Act.\nMy bill will give\u00a0military\u00a0healthcare workers priority to get jobs in the VA healthcare system, recruiting\u00a0combat medics straight from active duty service into careers providing healthcare to veterans. As your representative, I will continue working to pass common sense policies like these that ensure veterans get the care they deserve while bringing the VA into the 21st century.\nSincerely,\n  Sam Graves", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://graves.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/bringing-the-va-into-the-21st-century"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7468950934708118, "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"}