Rep. Cisneros Expands VA Services in the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Veterans Affairs Committee Member Congressman Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. (CA-39) supported H.R. 840, the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act, which includes two amendments successfully offered and approved on a bipartisan basis by Congressman Cisneros. The bill will now be referred to the Senate.

Congressman Cisneros successfully offered an amendment that would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a feasibility study to determine how the department could provide child care assistance for veterans who receive health care services from non-department facilities. Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) joined Congressman Cisneros as a cosponsor.

“As a former Navy supply officer and Veteran, I am a strong supporter of advancing policies that make it easier for all Veterans to take advantage of the VA benefits they deserve,” said Rep. Cisneros. “Providing safe, affordable, and convenient childcare for veterans who are parents and grandparents eliminates just one of the many barriers to quality care our veterans can face when trying to make health and mental health appointments. Studying whether these services can be expanded for those without easy access to a VA Hospital is critical for my district, which lacks a VA hospital in its tri-county area, but is home to one of the largest veterans’ population in the country.”

“The cost of any war must include the cost of supporting and caring for our veterans and their families,” said Rep. Welch. “Our recovering servicemembers deserve the best care possible and providing childcare will remove an important barrier that veterans in rural areas face in accessing it.”

Congressman Cisneros also offered an amendment that would include intensive health care services related to physical therapy for a service-connected disability in the definition of “covered health care services.”

“Physical therapy is an important aspect of any healing process and is often necessary for veterans suffering from sustained pain or discomfort from a service-connected disability,” said Rep. Cisneros. “For my constituents accessing physical therapy services at VA health clinics, making a periodic physical therapy appointment means making a regular commitment to be stuck in traffic to travel to the closest VA hospital, located at least an hour away.

“VA benefits are not truly ‘benefits’ if the costs associated with child care during regular appointments place too large a burden on veteran caretakers. Veterans and their families face many obstacles when transitioning back to civilian life, but access to healthcare should not be one of them.”

Rep. Cisneros is a Veteran who served for 10 years in the United States Navy, reaching the rank of Lt. Commander. He is a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, and Vice Chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

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