{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399222", "President Obama Signs Walbergs Medal of Honor Priority Care Act into Law", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Obama Signs Walberg\u2019s Medal of Honor Priority Care Act into Law \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 20, 2016\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Jackson, Mich. \u2013 Congressman Tim Walberg\u2019s (MI-07) bipartisan legislation to ensure living Medal of Honor recipients receive timely access to their health benefits was signed into law by President Obama this past weekend. The Medal of Honor Priority Care Act was included as part of a larger bill to enhance care and resources for veterans, the Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act.\r\n\u201cEvery veteran who answers America\u2019s call to service is owed our deepest respect and access to high quality care,\u201d said Walberg. \u201cThere are an elite few, the bravest of the brave, who displayed extraordinary heroism and selflessness in going above and beyond the call of duty. For the service members who were awarded our nation\u2019s highest military decoration, it is only fitting that they should be placed in the highest priority group that the VA has to offer.\u201d\r\nThe Medal of Honor is the nation\u2019s highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. Under the current system, Medal of Honor recipients are allocated to Priority Group 3 in the VA\u2019s priority scale to determine eligibility for health care services. With Congressman Walberg\u2019s legislation, Medal of Honor recipients will now be placed in Priority Group 1.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 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://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399222"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6897598505020142, "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"}