2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For The Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition
Act, Which Would Automatically Enroll Eligible Veterans For VA Health
Care Services. In January 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act which
would "require the Veterans Affairs Department to automatically enroll
eligible veterans in the department's patient enrollment system, giving
them access to VA health care services, within 60 days of receiving
confirmation of their eligibility from the Defense Department. It would
also require the VA to provide veterans a notification of enrollment, an
electronic version of their certificate of eligibility, means to opt out
of enrollment electronically and instructions to elect enrollment at a
later date." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 265-163. [House Vote 14,
1/20/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/20/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
4673]
The Bill Would Automatically Enroll Discharged Military Members
Into The Veterans Affairs Medical System To Ease Their Access To
Health Care And Decrease The Confusion Associated To The Health
System. According to the Military Times, "House lawmakers on
Thursday advanced legislation that would automatically enroll
separating service members into the Veterans Affairs medical system,
an effort to streamline their access to that care if they need it.
The move has for years been championed by advocates as a potential
way to increase veterans' use of VA care and reduce some of the
confusion connected to the massive health system. Past research has
shown that veterans enrolled in VA medical care are less likely to
die by suicide than their peers outside of the system." [Military
Times,
1/20/22]
The Bill Would Affect Approximately 60K Veterans Per Year, And
Instead Of Having Them Apply For VA Health Care Services, The VA
Would Automatically Enroll Them Contingent On Eligibility.
According to the Military Times, "The measure would affect about
60,000 individuals a year. Instead of formally applying for VA
medical services, department officials would automatically add them
to the system if they met the requirements for eligibility."
[Military Times,
1/20/22]
According To The Congressional Budget Office, The Bill Would Cost
Approximately $3.1 Billion Over The Next Five Years And Individual
Veterans Would Save An Average Of $3,900 In Health Care Expenses.
According to the Military Times, "The Congressional Budget Office
estimates the measure would cost about $3.1 billion over the next
five years, with individual veterans saving an average of about
$3,900 in health care costs." [Military Times,
1/20/22]
Several House Republicans Argued The Costs And Impacts Of The Bill
Were Not Fully Addressed And Warned The Bill Was A "Federal
Overreach." According to the Military Times, "The measure received
opposition from some House Republicans who said the costs and impact
of the changes have not yet been fully addressed and who complained
that the moves amount to federal overreach." [Military Times,
1/20/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Ensuring Veterans'
Smooth Transition Act, Which Would Automatically Enroll Eligible
Veterans For VA Health Care Services. In January 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "Bost R-Ill., motion
to recommit the bill to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee." The
vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a
vote of 206-221. [House Vote 13,
1/20/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/20/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
4673]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Extended Automatic
Enrollment To Veterans Discharged 90 Days Before Enactment Of The
Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act. In January 2022, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the
Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act which would "extend automatic
enrollment under the bill's provisions to veterans discharged 90 days
before enactment or later." The vote was on the adoption of an
amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 228-198. [House
Vote 12, 1/20/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
1/20/22; Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.
155;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
4673]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Ensuring Veterans'
Smooth Transition Act. In January 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res
860) that would provide for floor consideration [...] the Ensuring
Veterans' Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act (HR 4673). It would provide for
one hour of general debate on each bill and floor consideration of two
amendments to HR 1836 and five amendments to HR 4673." The vote was on
the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of
219-203. [House Vote 3,
1/11/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/11/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
4673;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
860]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Ensuring Veterans'
Smooth Transition Act. In January 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule
(H Res 860) that would provide for floor consideration [...] the
Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act (HR 4673). It would
provide for one hour of general debate on each bill and floor
consideration of two amendments to HR 1836 and five amendments to HR
4673." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The
House agreed to the motion by a vote of 219-203. [House Vote 2,
1/11/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/11/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
4673;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
860]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Expand Health Care Benefits For Veterans.
In November 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to Congressional
Quarterly, "the bill, as amended, that would expand existing health care
services and benefits for veterans and their families. The bill would
include expanding access to home and community-based services at
Department of Veterans Affairs' medical centers, expanding in-home
health care for aging veterans and increasing assistance for homeless
veterans. The bill would require the VA to provide certain home and
community-based services like Veteran Directed Care to eligible veterans
and caregivers at their local VA medical centers. It would require those
centers to be staffed to maximize effectiveness. It would increase, from
65 percent to 100 percent of nursing home costs, the cap for in-home
care programs. The bill would require more public outreach and public
notification to veterans about community care options. It would define
community care options as private-sector medical appointments paid by
the VA in circumstances where wait times in the system reach certain
benchmarks. Among other provisions, it would limit when the VA would be
allowed to restrict community care and would require VA personnel to
inform veterans about the option to receive community care when
receiving information about their benefits. It would offset the cost of
the expanded benefits by extending from Nov. 29, 2031 to June 9, 2034,
the period for certain VA housing loan fees." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 389 to 9. [House Vote 466,
11/18/24; Congressional
Quarterly,
11/18/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8371]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require The Veterans Affairs Department To
Provide Job Training, Health Care, And Monetary Benefits To Children Of
Vietnam Veterans With Spina Bifida. In September 2023, Fitzpatrick
voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly, "would
require the Veterans Affairs Department to provide health care, job
training and monetary benefits to children of Vietnam veterans who have
spina bifida or other birth defects. The bill would require the VA to
establish an advisory council on health care and benefits for such
children and require the VA to establish care and coordination teams to
conduct outreach, at least every 180 days, to ensure the continued care
of such children. It would also require the VA to provide to Congress a
list of conditions that will trigger outreach to covered children and to
attempt to contact such children as soon as practicable after
identification of a condition." The vote was on passage. The House
agreed to the bill by a vote of 422 to 0, thus the bill was sent to the
Senate. [House Vote 399,
9/19/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/19/23;
Congressional Actions,
S.112]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Instruct The Veterans Affairs Department To
Conduct A Study On The Feasibility Of Furnishing Doula Services To
Pregnant Veterans In The VA Patient Enrollment System. In December
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the
Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs Act of
2022, which would "require the Veterans Affairs Department to carry out
a study and report to Congress within 18 months of enactment on the
feasibility and acceptability of furnishing doula services to pregnant
or formerly pregnant veterans enrolled in the VA patient enrollment
system. It would require the study to include an analysis of whether
measures taken by other governmental entities regarding doula
certification would be adequate with respect to VA services." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 376-44. The
Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 497,
12/1/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/1/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2521]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill,
Which Provided $81 Billion For VA Medical Care. In December 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for the FY 2020 minibus spending bill, which
represented 8 of the 12 appropriations bills. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The measure provides $81.0 billion in funding for VA
medical care, including $9.4 billion for mental health, $1.1 billion
for telehealth service, $402 million for opioid misuse prevention and
treatment, $800 for medical and prosthetic research, $585 million for
health care for women veterans, and $300 million for rural health." The
vote was a motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The House agreed to
the motion by a vote of 297-120. The Senate later passed the bill and
the President signed the bill into law. [House Vote 689,
12/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1865]
2018: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against Increasing Funding For The
Veterans Health Administration by $10 Million With A Corresponding
Decrease In Funding For VA Administration. In June 2018, Fitzpatrick
effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "decrease[d] funding for VA administration by
$10.2 million and would [have] increase[d] funding for medical
funding at the Veterans Health Administration by $10 million, to be
available on Oct 1, 2018." The underlying legislation was an FY 2019
minibus of Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs. The vote was on a motion to recommit.
The House rejected the motion by a vote of 187 to 225. [House Vote 256,
6/8/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/8/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5895]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For The $1.3 Trillion FY 2018 Omnibus
Spending Deal Which Raised Spending By $138 Billion Over FY 2017
Levels, Including $70.3 Billion For Health Care Programs At The
Veterans Health Administration. In March 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for
the FY 2018 Omnibus spending bill. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Combined, the spending measures would provide about $1.3 trillion in
discretionary spending, with $1.2 trillion subject to discretionary
spending caps, and $78.1 billion designated as Overseas Contingency
Operations funds. The measure's spending levels are consistent with the
increased defense and non-defense budget caps set by the two-year budget
deal agreed to last month. That agreement increased the FY 2018 defense
cap by $80 billion and the non-defense cap by $63 billion. Given that
the previous caps were set to reduce overall discretionary spending by
$5 billion, the net increase provided by the omnibus is $138 billion
over the FY 2017 level." The vote was on the motion to concur in the
Senate Amendment with an Amendment. The House agreed to the motion,
thereby passing the bill, by a vote of 256 to 167. The Senate later
agreed to the legislation, sending it to the president, who signed it
into law. [House Vote 127,
3/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/22/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1625]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Reallocated $5 Million
For The Healthcare For Homeless Veterans Program. In July 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for en bloc
amendments no. 8 to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, which would, in part,
"reallocate $5 million for Veterans Health Administration medical
services, intended for the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program,
from funding authorized for the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review
Commission; and strike a provision that would allow the Veterans Affairs
Department to transfer funds from the medical facilities and general
administration accounts to the Asset and Infrastructure Review
Commission." The vote was on the adoption of amendments. The House
adopted the amendments by a vote 238-191. [House Vote 381,
7/20/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/20/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
301;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
8294]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted For The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act. In
December 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for "the bill, as amended, that would require the Veterans Affairs
Department to carry out home- and community-based service programs, such
as the Veteran-Directed Care program and the Homemaker and Home Health
Aide program. It would raise the maximum cost for VA coverage of non-VA
nursing home care from 65 to 100 percent of the cost the VA would have
incurred for directly providing such care. It would authorize the VA to
establish regulations allowing non-VA care to exceed 100 percent of such
cost for veterans with certain motor neuron and spinal conditions. It
would require the VA to assess caregivers and veterans who are denied
services under the VA's caregiver support program for eligibility in any
other VA home- and community-based services program. It would require
the VA to provide a smooth and personalized transition for veterans and
caregivers who are transitioned into such programs. It would require the
VA, within 18 months of enactment, to carry out a three-year pilot
program to provide homemaker and home health aide services to veterans
who live in communities with a shortage of home health aides. It would
require the VA to submit to Congress several reports and reviews on
in-home care to veterans, including a requirement for the VA to submit
to Congress recommendations for new veteran home- and community-based
services. It also would require the VA to develop, maintain and
regularly update a website that includes information on VA caregiver
programs. As an offset, the bill would extend the rate for fees on
housing loans guaranteed on or after Nov. 15, 2031, to Feb. 4, 2032."
The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 414 to
5, thus it was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 696,
12/5/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/5/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
542]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Requiring Drug Manufacturers That Contract
With The VA To Comply With Maximum Drug Price Provisions. In December
2019, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to a bill lowering drug prices
for Medicare that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "require
drug manufacturers contracting with the Veterans Affairs Department to
comply with maximum prices set for any drug under the bill's
provisions, if the VA determines that such maximum prices are less than
those determined under existing law regarding VA drug procurement." The
vote was on adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by
a vote of 234-192. [House Vote 680,
12/12/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/12/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.721;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Instructed The Veterans'
Affairs Department To Launch An Awareness Campaign Over VA-Covered
Fertility Treatments, Procedures And Services Available For Veterans
Struggling With Infertility. In July 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which would "direct the Veterans
Affairs Department to conduct an awareness campaign regarding the types
of fertility treatments, procedures and services available to veterans
experiencing issues with fertility, covered under the VA medical
benefits package." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The
House adopted the amendment by a vote 243-187. [House Vote 349,
7/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/14/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
289;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7900]