Local opinion: A duty to serve those who protected us

Time and time again, I hear about the challenges our veterans face, whether they are newly transitioning to civilian life or served decades ago.

Rates of unemployment, homelessness and emotional distress are elevated among veterans and military members transitioning to civilian life. With Arizona home to half a million veterans — 70,000 of whom call our district home — the unique issues they face are continually top of mind. From access to health care to skilled job training, I am committed to doing all I can to provide for those who served our country.

Unfortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing to implement a policy change that will hamper access to critical health care and emergency medical services for veterans in Arizona and nationwide.

Beginning in February, the VA is scheduled to slash reimbursement rates paid when a veteran faces a medical emergency and is transported via air or ground ambulance. That could mean veterans having to shoulder more of the bill.

Industry experts predict the VA cuts will force ambulance operators to close bases and discontinue service in communities where service costs are high. In other words: rural Arizona will be impacted.

But veterans won’t be the only ones hurt in this scenario: we will all pay the price if the ambulance and EMTs we need during a medical emergency are farther away.

Access to health care is already limited in portions of my district where it’s common for patients to drive for an hour or longer just to see a doctor. Cochise Regional Hospital and Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital have both closed in recent years.

Further VA cuts to emergency medical services will only exacerbate the issue of limiting access to health care.

Here in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, we are incredibly proud of our service members and veterans alike. Arizonans have had a long legacy of stepping up to serve our country and defend democracy both at home and abroad. In fact, during World War II, the City of Pima — a small town in my district — lost 27 men, accounting for the greatest loss suffered by any community in the country on a per capita basis. In addition, our district is home to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca – two key military installations.

We have a duty to provide for those who protected us. The VA must not abandon veterans in their own time of need as they face illness, an accident or other medical emergency.

That’s why, as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I’m proud to co-sponsor H.R. 5530: the “VA Emergency Transportation Access Act.” This bipartisan legislation will protect veterans’ emergency medical services by blocking the VA from cutting reimbursement rates before the agency has fully reviewed all impacts to veterans’ health care and sought input from veteran advocacy organizations and industry experts.

This is commonsense legislation, which is why it is endorsed by some of our country’s leading organizations representing veterans and first responders, including the American Legion, VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America and more.

Additionally, I was proud to join my colleague, Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-1), in sending two letters to the Department of Veterans Affairs about these proposed cuts to reimbursements for emergency services, but we have yet to receive a response from the VA.

The VA must freeze its planned cuts to emergency medical services and examine the widespread impacts this may have. Most importantly, I urge my colleagues in Congress to join me in preventing the agency from enacting similar reductions in the future without a full understanding of the impact to veterans.

Our veterans should never doubt our nation’s’ commitment to them. We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans and when we enact changes like this to make their lives easier, healthier and better, we fulfill that commitment.