{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.husted.senate.gov/media/press-releases/husted-joins-bill-to-improve-access-to-care-for-veterans/", "Husted joins bill to improve access to care for veterans", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "OH", "Jon Husted", "H001104", "www.husted.senate.gov", "husted", "https://www.husted.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cOur veterans have sacrificed for our country and deserve access to quality and timely health care.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs Jerry Moran\u2019s (R-Kan.) Veterans\u2019 Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act. This bill would ensure the consistent implementation of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care Program and streamline veteran access to mental health and addiction treatment.\n\nHouse of Representatives Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) is leading the companion bill to the ACCESS Act in the House.\n\n\u201cOur veterans have sacrificed for our country and deserve access to quality and timely health care. Too often, long wait times or limited availability can stand in the way of getting the care they need. The ACCESS Act would ensure that veterans can reliably use the VA Community Care Program when Veterans Health Administration services are not readily available,\u201d said Husted.\n\n\u201cNo veteran \u2013 especially one facing cancer, addiction, chronic pain or a mental health condition \u2013 should have to wait weeks or months for the care they need or have to fight to receive the community care referrals they are entitled to by law. Yet, that is the reality for far too many veterans in the VA health care system today. Veterans deserve prompt, high-quality care and greater flexibility in choosing when, where, and how to use the health care benefits they have earned through their service. This legislation will help make certain that VA delivers on those promises,\u201d said Moran.\n\nThe ACCESS Act would establish existing community care access standards as the baseline standard of care for veterans seeking care in the community, increase access to life-saving treatment programs for veterans with mental health conditions or addiction and expand the list of criteria VA is required to take into account when determining whether it is in a veteran\u2019s best medical interest to refer a veteran to the community to include veteran preference and continuity of care.\n\nThe Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, America\u2019s Warrior Partnership, Vietnam Veterans of America, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Hunter Seven Foundation, Concerned Veterans for America, Americans for Prosperity and National Defense Committee all endorse the ACCESS Act.\n\nThis bill builds on Husted\u2019s support to ensure veterans are receiving the medical care they deserve. Husted is leading the Rural Veterans\u2019 Improved Access to Benefits Act. This bill would ensure veterans living in rural communities have permanent, cross-state access to certified health care providers for their required disability claim exams.", 1, "2026-06-10T06:36:00Z", "2026-06-10T06:37:32Z"]], "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.husted.senate.gov/media/press-releases/husted-joins-bill-to-improve-access-to-care-for-veterans/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8073809333145618, "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"}