{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/u-s-rep-greg-steube-leads-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-on-the-va-reportedly-using-veteran-resources-for-illegal-immigrants/", "U.S. Rep. Greg Steube Leads Colleagues in Demanding\u00a0Answers on the VA Reportedly Using Veteran Resources for Illegal Immigrants", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "W. Gregory Steube", "S001214", "steube.house.gov", "steube", "https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Rep. Greg Steube Leads Colleagues in Demanding Answers on the VA Reportedly Using Veteran Resources for Illegal Immigrants\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) led 23 of his colleagues today in demanding answers from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough regarding reports that the VA diverted resources intended for our veterans in order to process medical claims for illegal immigrants.\n\n\u201cIt is our duty to provide veterans with quality care, but the VA has been a total failure for so many of our veterans. Many veterans fight with the VA for years to get help. Some never receive it,\u201d said Rep. Steube. \u201cThat\u2019s why you can imagine how much of an absurdity it is for our veterans to learn that the VA has been involved in processing medical claims for illegal immigrants. The VA should be 100% focused on those who served our country honorably \u2013 not illegal immigrants who break our nation\u2019s laws. I am hopeful Secretary McDonough has answers for Congress regarding this troublesome arrangement.\u201d\n\nThe members wrote in part:\n\n\u201cThe VA exists to serve American veterans who risked their lives to protect our great country. For far too long, the VA has fallen short in its mission \u2018To fulfill President Lincoln\u2019s promise to care for those who have served in our nation\u2019s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.\u2019 Veterans have experienced unacceptable wait times in receiving medical care and disability benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress appropriates funds to the VA in order to provide services to our veterans, not illegal immigrants. Our veterans served our country, and it is high time that our government start serving them.\u201d\n\nThe members asked Secretary McDonough the following questions:\n\nHow many claims has the VA Financial Services Center processed for ICE on a monthly basis since January 2021?\n\nAre claims submitted for care provided to VA beneficiaries processed before any other claims serviced by the VA?\n\nHow many hours have VA personnel spent processing medical claims on behalf of ICE?\n\nIs the VA providing any other services to federal agencies involving illegal immigrants?\n\nThe letter was cosigned by: Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Matthew Rosendale, Sr. (MT-02), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Aaron Bean (FL-04), Troy E. Nehls (TX-22), Harriet M. Hageman (WY-At Large), Brian Babin, D.D.S. (TX-36), Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04), John Rose (TN-06), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (TX-14), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Scott Perry (PA-10), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), and Clay Higgins (LA-03).\n\nCongressman Steube has been a champion for Florida\u2019s veterans and fought to deliver the healthcare they deserve. Despite representing one of the country\u2019s largest veteran populations, the VA hospital serving Florida\u2019s 17th Congressional district ranks in the bottom 5% of veteran hospitals nationally. Congressman Steube continues to advocate for his priority legislation to give veterans true choice when it comes to their healthcare. He believes that no veteran should be stuck in the failing VA.", 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://steube.house.gov/press-releases/u-s-rep-greg-steube-leads-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-on-the-va-reportedly-using-veteran-resources-for-illegal-immigrants/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6933991573750973, "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"}