HR 20 – AS INTRODUCED
2014 SESSION
05/06
HOUSE RESOLUTION 20
A RESOLUTION urging Congress to support a statewide veterans’ medical identification card.
SPONSORS: Rep. Theberge, Coos 3; Rep. Massimilla, Graf 1; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock 5; Rep.?Priestley, Rock 8; Rep. Todd Smith, Merr 24; Rep. C. Sweeney, Sull 8; Rep.?Rideout, Coos 7; Rep. Graham, Hills 7
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
This resolution urges Congress to support a statewide veterans’ medical identification card.
14-2397
05/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
A RESOLUTION urging Congress to support a statewide veterans’ medical identification card.
Whereas, countless men and women have proudly served this nation honorably; and
Whereas, many of our citizens are deeply concerned about access to quality health care for veterans; and
Whereas, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) "scores" the spending liabilities of leases, commonly used for Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs); and
Whereas, not only is there a critical lack of CBOCs in rural areas, but existing CBOCs cannot meet the acute care needed by veterans; and
Whereas, New Hampshire is one of only 3 states (New Hampshire, Hawaii, and Arkansas) that do not have a full-service hospital; and
Whereas, a full-service veteran’s hospital is cost-prohibitive; and
Whereas, the distances traveled on rural roads and during inclement weather conditions to a veterans' facility are not practical; and
Whereas, local hospitals have the personnel and equipment to best serve veterans; and
Whereas, a veterans’ medical identification card that would enable veterans to use their local hospitals and clinics is critically needed by veterans, could be developed in collaboration with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), and would allow the VA to cost-effectively deliver better critical care and services to veterans in states that do not have a full-service hospital; and
Whereas, it is now more important than ever to ensure that the VA's budget is protected during Washington's increasingly protracted fiscal wars; and
Whereas, there is strong, bipartisan Congressional support to authorize a veterans’ medical identification card as part of the Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013 (HR 813 and S 932); and
Whereas, the New Hampshire house of representatives supports implementation of a pilot program in New Hampshire, funded by the VA, that would enable veterans to use local hospitals and clinics with a statewide veterans’ medical identification card; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the New Hampshire house of representatives urges the New Hampshire congressional delegation to submit legislation to Congress establishing a pilot program in New Hampshire that would enable New Hampshire veterans to use local hospitals and clinics with a statewide veterans medical identification card, and
That the clerk of the house of representatives send a copy of this resolution both by email and by first class mail to the state office of each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.