{"id":29870,"date":"2019-04-19T16:13:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T16:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/19\/va-privatization-latest-battleground-for-congressional-rising-stars\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:48:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:48:52","slug":"va-privatization-latest-battleground-for-congressional-rising-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/congress\/2019\/04\/19\/va-privatization-latest-battleground-for-congressional-rising-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"VA privatization latest battleground for congressional rising stars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pair of prominent freshman lawmakers offered sharply different views about the future of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care this week, bringing the ongoing debate over fears of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/04\/11\/vets-groups-and-lawmakers-say-theyre-against-it-but-what-does-privatization-of-veterans-affairs-really-mean\/\" target=_blank>department privatization<\/a> to the next generation of elected leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The duo \u2014 Democratic New York <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2018\/10\/30\/ro-khanna-and-progressive-democrats-hope-blue-wave-will-shake-up-american-national-defense-policy\/\" target=_blank>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> and Republican Texas <a href=\"http:\/\/caucus.militarytimes.com\/speaker\/dan-crenshaw\/\" target=_blank>Rep. Dan Crenshaw<\/a> \u2014 have both built national followings since their elections last fall, and recently have sparred directly over social media concerning rhetoric surrounding Muslims and the Sept. 11 attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But this week marked each legislator\u2019s first focused entry into VA policy discussions, and their comments suggested both will make those issues a key focus in months to come \u2014 with very different positions on the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/04\/09\/va-secretarys-health-care-fight-could-affect-the-department-for-decades-to-come\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_19086628661948.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">VA secretary\u2019s health care fight could affect the department for decades to come<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Only eight months into the job, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie&#039;s moves now could define his department for generations to come.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In her home district on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez took part in a rally organized by National Nurses United and other advocates who warned that current administration plans are taking the department on a path towards privatization by dramatically expanding community care eligibility for veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re trying to \u2018fix\u2019 the VA for pharmaceutical companies, they\u2019re trying to \u2018fix\u2019 VA for insurance corporations, and ultimately they\u2019re trying to \u2018fix\u2019 the VA for a for-profit health care industry that does not put people or veterans first,\u201d she told an applauding crowd advocates who have lobbied against the changes for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect (VA). Because if there is any community that deserves Cadillac, first-class health care in the United States of America, it is our military servicemembers and veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A day later, in his home district, Crenshaw offered the opposite view during discussion held by Concerned Veterans for America. He insisted the health care moves \u201care in no way trying to give away VA responsibilities\u201d but instead are helping the department evolve into a modern, more effective health care system for veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s a knee jerk reaction in Washington when something isn\u2019t perfect to just add more money, add more personnel, it\u2019ll all be OK,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not true, especially with complex issues like veterans health care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At issue are looming changes to eligibility rules for veterans seeking medical care from private-sector doctors at taxpayer expense. Under the VA Mission Act passed last summer, new standards will be put in place this June that could nearly quadruple the number of veterans who could go outside the federal system for that care. About 600,000 veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible for the existing community care programs. The proposed expanded standards will raise that number to between 1.5 million and 2.1 million patients, according to the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supporters of the change \u2014 including CVA \u2014 have argued it amounts to providing more choices and more convenient, timely care for veterans. Opponents \u2014 including NNU \u2014 have called it a way to siphon off VA dollars to private companies, and eventually privatize the government\u2019s responsibility to care for veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither Crenshaw, who lost an eye while serving as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan, nor Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive leader who has already made health care reforms a key point of her congressional focus, sit on the chamber\u2019s veterans policy committee. Neither was in Congress last year when the Mission Act passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But both are poised to be key voices as the June deadline approaches, and as Democrats try to decide whether they should halt or stall the changes amid lingering concerns from their supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ocasio-Cortez argued that VA care has been unfairly maligned in recent years, a point that the nurses group and union leaders have emphasized for months. Recent <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2720917?guestAccessKey=05b5223a-1756-4852-bd4f-f66f53d44e77\">studies have shown that VA wait times<\/a> are lower than private-sector options and care quality generally exceeds that of outside clinics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe entire opening and approach that we have seen when it comes to privatization is the idea that this thing that isn\u2019t broken, this thing that provides some of the highest quality care to our veterans, somehow needs to be fixed, optimized, tinkered with until we don\u2019t even recognize it anymore,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe believe some things should not be for sale in this country. Caring for our veterans should not be for sale in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/11\/21\/veterans-in-the-116th-congress-by-the-numbers\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18319598170965.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Veterans in the 116th Congress, by the numbers<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">When the next Congress convenes in January, 95 veterans will be among those serving in the House and Senate.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crenshaw said he has received care at four different VA facilities since his return from the war, but that too often care is inconsistent from location to location. Expanding options for veterans who face longer waits or insufficient expertise is not only a sensible step ahead, he argued, but a duty for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI need the VA to be flexible enough to send me outside for care,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The debate over the Mission Act changes will return to Capitol Hill later this month, when Crenshaw, Ocasio-Cortez and the rest of the House returns from its April legislative break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaders from the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee have already demanded more information from VA on the financial impact of the changes and unfilled health care vacancies within the Veterans Health System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That debate is also likely to shift from the committee\u2019s hearing room to the House floor as the deadline approaches, giving Ocasio-Cortez and Crenshaw another chance to square off on VA issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If Congress wants to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/ProtectTheVA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ProtectTheVA<\/a>, we shouldn\u2019t starve it + then sell it off for parts, forcing vets into for-profit emergency rooms + to providers who aren\u2019t used to working w\/their unique medical needs.<br><br>We should fight to fully fund the VA + hire to fill its 49,000 vacancies. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v25R2UNanW\">https:\/\/t.co\/v25R2UNanW<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AOC\/status\/1118964856038797314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Implementing the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/VAMISSIONAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#VAMISSIONAct<\/a> well will empower veterans with more choice over the medical care they&#39;ve earned through their service &amp; sacrifice. Hear from VA Secretary Wilkie: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ka5AbhNYH3\">https:\/\/t.co\/ka5AbhNYH3<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Concerned Veterans for America (@ConcernedVets) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ConcernedVets\/status\/1118857963383468033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw offered starkly different views of today&#8217;s VA in events this week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":99709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":38,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[38,106,31,33,9],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3294],"class_list":["post-29870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-congress","category-daily-brief","category-home","category-newsletters","category-federal-oversight"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"6RGG2HTWPJABDKYTQYRXMZZIR4","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/04\/19\/va-privatization-latest-battleground-for-congressional-rising-stars\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>VA privatization latest battleground for congressional rising stars - Federal Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Democratic New York Rep. 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