Congressman Ciscomani and VA Secretary Doug Collins Visit Tucson VA Clinic, Highlight Commitment to Veterans’ Health Care

Tucson, AZ - Congressman Juan Ciscomani and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins today emphasized their commitment to making sure our nation's Veterans get the services they've earned.

During a wide-ranging discussion with local Veterans and Veteran advocates, the congressman and cabinet secretary said the millions of American men and women who've served in our United States Armed Forces deserve nothing less than a VA that responds quickly and effectively to their needs.

"Our Veterans are the backbone of our community here in Arizona and across the country," said Ciscomani, who represents nearly 80,000 Veterans, one of the nation's largest Veteran populations in the country. "They deserve a VA that is unwavering in its commitment to fight for the benefits they have earned through sacrifice and service."

The discussion touched on a variety of topics, ranging from telemedicine and mental health treatment to electronic record keeping and home loans. Participants included:

• Secretary Doug Collins
• Eric Renaud
• Dan Jackson
• Allen Kinnison
• Bruce Huffman
• Tom Murphy
• Eric Bejarano
• Arnold Stockham
• Bob Wells
• Cody Nicholls
• Al Young
• Ted Maxwell
• Hugo Fausto
• Young Mayberry
• Kristin Pereira
• Alissa McKaig

Prior to the roundtable, Ciscomani and Collins toured and met with staff at the Northwest Tucson VA Clinic. Congressman Eli Crane of Arizona's 2nd Congressional District also participated in the visit.

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System serves more than 170,000 Veterans across eight Arizona counties and provides primary care, mental health care, specialty services, and telehealth, handling nearly 700,000 outpatient visits per year.

Ciscomani, a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with VA leadership to tackle challenges, boost efficiency, and ensure Arizona's Veterans receive consistent, world-class care. The roundtable focused on actionable strategies with local Veterans and key stakeholders to further enhance services including transition assistance for Veterans and their families and increased access to lifesaving vital mental service in the Tucson Northwest Clinic and beyond.

"In Congress, through my roles on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and Appropriations Committee, I am dedicated to advancing policies and securing funding resources that deliver real results for our American heroes who have served," Ciscomani said. "I am grateful to Secretary Collins for joining us again in Tucson to listen to our Veterans as we push forward with momentum and progress towards reducing backlogs for all who have worn the uniform."

"Under President Trump we are transforming VA from a bureaucratic organization to a service organization that puts Veterans at the center of everything we do," said Secretary Collins. "Tucson-area Veterans have a strong advocate in Rep. Ciscomani, whose leadership has been vital to accomplishing this goal."

During the 119th Congress, Ciscomani has had 4 Veteran-focused pieces of legislation pass the House. In addition, last week, Ciscomani alongside Rep. Van Orden introduced H.R. 8532, the VA Home Loan Affordability Act. Additional details can be found here.

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