{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2024/8/issues/veterans/blackburn-rubio-colleagues-introduce-ensuring-continuity-in-veterans-health-act", "Blackburn, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans\u2019 Health Act", "2024-08-26", "2024", "2024-08", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and their colleagues introduced the Ensuring Continuity in Veterans\u2019 Health Act to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to consider continuity of healthcare when deciding whether seeing a provider in the community is in a veteran\u2019s best medical interest.\n\nAs the VA opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA\u2019s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care.\n\n\u201cAs the Biden administration continues to threaten veterans\u2019 access to the Community Care Program, veterans across Tennessee consistently tell me how much they value this program because it provides them with options to receive medical care closer to home. This legislation will broaden access to community care by ensuring that our veterans receive the quality care they deserve without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles,\u201d said Senator Blackburn.\n\n\u201cOur veterans have sacrificed so much for this country and often have PTSD or other mental health issues as a result. Addressing mental health issues takes trust and time. The Ensuring Continuity in Veterans\u2019 Health Act will ensure our veterans can continue receiving care from their long-term providers that they have established a trusted relationship with,\u201d said Senator Rubio.\n\nU.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nCommunity Care allows veterans to go to regular doctors in their community when the VA cannot provide the care needed. Community Care is based on specific eligibility requirements, the availability of VA care, and the needs and circumstances of individual veterans.\n\nCO-SPONSORS:\n\nSenators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) co-sponsored this legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"]], "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://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2024/8/issues/veterans/blackburn-rubio-colleagues-introduce-ensuring-continuity-in-veterans-health-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6287381984293461, "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"}