{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=0BFF88A3-563C-475F-8EDA-DC5414C1224E", "Wicker Confident in New Laws Benefiting Veterans", "2017-11-13", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Roger Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We have many reasons to celebrate our veterans on Veterans Day.\u00a0 The entire month of November has \u2013 for the first time \u2013 been named National Veterans and Military Families Month by the President.\u00a0 Our veterans have offered us some of the greatest gifts, protecting this nation and its freedoms.\u00a0\u00a0 But our gratitude comes with responsibility.\u00a0 What do we offer these courageous Americans in return?\r\nWe can certainly answer that question better today than we could a few years ago.\u00a0 An unwavering commitment exists to right the wrongs of the past mismanagement and negligence that plagued the VA system and disrupted veterans\u2019 access to care.\u00a0 Real VA reform is a top priority for the White House, and it is a top priority for the Republican-led Congress.\r\nMore Health-Care Choices, Accountability\r\nCongress has passed seven new laws this year in an effort to improve health care and benefits for our veterans.\u00a0 One of these laws improves the Veterans Choice Program, allowing veterans to choose non-VA care when they face long wait times or long drives to the closest medical center.\u00a0 Another updates the GI Bill by giving veterans more time to use their education benefits and extending those benefits to Reserve and National Guard soldiers deployed after Sept. 11, 2001.\r\nOther new laws promote greater accountability and efficiency within the VA, illustrating the widespread resolve to weed out systemic corruption.\u00a0 President Trump has signed a bill that gives the VA Secretary the power to remove VA employees based on misconduct or poor performance.\u00a0 He has also established an Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection to help fortify a culture of integrity and its capacity to take root in the VA system.\r\n\r\nImprovements Needed at Mississippi\u2019s VA Hospitals\r\nThese federal measures are important, but successful reform will also take continued diligence at the state and local levels.\u00a0 I was disheartened but not surprised based upon my discussions with veterans to learn recently that our state\u2019s two VA medical centers have received low internal rankings by the VA again this year.\u00a0 I have written to VA Secretary David Shulkin to inquire about these performance concerns and ask for prompt action to improve the Jackson and Biloxi hospitals.\u00a0 Additionally, I have invited the Secretary to visit our state to ensure these concerns receive prompt attention and that our state\u2019s nearly 200,000 veterans have access to the quality care they deserve.\r\nOne Mississippian ready to serve on behalf of our veterans is Randy Reeves of Madison.\u00a0 As the head of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board and a veteran himself, Randy is an excellent pick to be the VA\u2019s Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, a role that is responsible for overseeing burial services and national cemeteries for veterans and their families.\u00a0 The Senate unanimously confirmed his nomination on November 8.\r\nMississippi\u2019s veterans and military families hold a special place in our communities.\u00a0 These men and women have fought for us, and we need to fight for them.\u00a0 That fight includes restoring confidence in the VA system and making good on our promises for better health care and benefits.", 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.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/weekly-report?ContentRecord_id=0BFF88A3-563C-475F-8EDA-DC5414C1224E"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.549463951960206, "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"}