WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) attached an amendment to H.R.5895, the minibus appropriations legislation, which aims to prevent wait times from continuing to increase at veterans clinics and facilities in Louisiana.   Specifically, the amendment says that “None of the funds made available in this act may be used in a manner that would increase wait times for veterans who seek care at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.”  Wait times at VA clinics in Louisiana are as high as 42 days.  Currently, the VA clinics in Pineville, Leesville, Lake Charles and Shreveport are experiencing the longest wait times.

“In Louisiana the average wait time for veterans to receive care at a VA clinic is 18 days,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “That is just plain unacceptable.  We have to do better for the men and women who served our country.  It’s a sad way to run government that my amendment has to be put into words and isn’t just common sense.”

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