{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://jacksonlee.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-applauds-the-va-road-to-veterans-day", "CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE APPLAUDS THE VA ROAD TO VETERANS DAY ACTION REVIEW  AND PROGRESS MADE TO DATE IN IMPROVING VETERAN HEALTH CARE", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sheila Jackson Lee", "J000032", "jacksonlee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security, released the following statement today regarding the Department of Veteran Affairs Blueprint for Excellence:\n\u201cVeterans Day is a time to honor and remember the millions of veterans in this generation and generations past who have made countless sacrifices in service of our country.\n\u201cI applaud the progress made today by the DVA in accelerating access to health care and addressing deficiencies as documented in its Blueprint for Excellence report released today. That report indicates that in the last 90 days, DVA has:\n1.\u00a0\u00a0 Scheduled more than 1.2 million more appointments in the past four months than in the same period last year.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0 In total, VA medical centers have scheduled over 19 million Veteran appointments from June to October 1, 2014.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0 Reduced the national new patient Primary Care wait time by 18 percent.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0 Completed 98 percent of appointments within 30 days of the Veterans\u2019 preferred date, or the date determined to be medically necessary by a physician.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0 Authorized 1.1 million non-VA care authorizations, a 47 percent increase over the same period last year. \u00a0\n\u201cDVA\u2019s mission is to rebuild trust with veterans, improve service delivery, and set the course for long-term excellence and reform will ultimately benefit millions of our nations deserving veterans. The progress made today is a significant step in the right direction.\n\u201cOur nation must come together to celebrate our veterans who have courageously defended our freedom, and honor the memory of the more than 4,400 American servicemen and women who have died in Iraq and more than 2,200 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the sacrifices of over 50,000 brave troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. A grateful nation cares for its soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, not only when they are abroad, but also upon their return home.\n\u201cVeteran care is a priority to me, to the VA Department, and to the millions of veterans and their families across the country, and I am committed to ensuring quality care for those who have fought for our freedoms. Our veterans deserve quality job opportunities, superb healthcare, and the promise of college as they return from the frontlines, and I have worked tirelessly to ensure these services for the more than 2 million troops and reservists, their families, and 22 million veterans, including 29,757 in the 18th Congressional District of Texas.\n\u201cOn the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind; as a nation, it is our duty to leave no veteran behind. This day and every day, let us honor their service with actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops, their families, and our veterans \u2013 and that are worthy of our grateful nation.\u201d\n###\nCongresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas\u2019s 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security", 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": ["http://jacksonlee.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-sheila-jackson-lee-applauds-the-va-road-to-veterans-day"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6878158785402775, "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"}