{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-joins-ohio-veteran-as-he-leads-effort-to-improve-veteran-healthcare", "Brown Joins Ohio Veteran as He Leads Effort to Improve Veteran Healthcare", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Veteran Healthcare Package Includes Several Provisions Authored by Brown\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 6, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined an Ohio veteran on a news conference call as he works to improve healthcare for veterans. Last week, the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee passed a veteran healthcare package, the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2017, which included several provisions authored by Brown.\r\nThe bill would:\r\n \r\nCreate the \u201cVeterans Community Care Program,\u201d so veterans, along with their doctors, can decide whether to seek medical care at the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) or in their community.\r\n \r\n \r\nExpand eligibility for VA\u2019s veteran caregivers program to include veterans of all generations. Also implement programs to better support veteran caregivers.\r\n \r\n \r\nGive specific training to doctors outside the VA system on how to address veterans\u2019 unique medical needs.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\nStrengthen VA opioid prescribing guidelines and require community providers to adhere to those guidelines.\r\n \r\n\u201cOur servicemembers and their families sacrifice so much to keep our country safe, and we need to ensure that when they return home, they have access to the best healthcare available,\u201d said Brown. \u201cWhile too much in Washington gets politicized, this is one area where we are still able to come together, roll up our sleeves, and get to work for our veterans and their families.\u201d\r\nBrown was joined on the call by Holly Koester from the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buckeye Chapter to speak on the importance of the bill to Ohio veterans and their families.\r\n\u201cAs a wheelchair athlete and veteran I promote and advocate that there is life after injury, so we need the care that will physically give us the ability to meet life\u2019s challenges and the peace of mind that we will receive the best\u00a0medical care when and where we need it,\u201d said Ms. Koester.\r\nThe bill also includes key provisions authored by Brown, which would require VA to publically post all vacancies at medical facilities, and quickly identify and fully hire mental health and primary care provider vacancies at VA.\r\nThe Caring for Our Veterans Act is supported by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, IAVA, Military Officers Association of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Wounded Warriors Project, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.\r\n###", 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://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-joins-ohio-veteran-as-he-leads-effort-to-improve-veteran-healthcare"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.520778052508831, "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"}