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The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has thrust this great nation into a tenuous time of hardship. Nevertheless, we will overcome this challenge through perseverance, teamwork, and American ingenuity. Healthcare professionals are working day and night to care for those infected, while biopharmaceutical industry scientists work to develop treatments and a vaccine. Additionally, our political leaders continue to debate policy measures to ease the burden of this pandemic and aid in the development and distribution of care. While I support these efforts and understand their challenges, I am deeply troubled by recent news that the Trump Administration plans on issuing...

VA Secretary Details Plans for Better Care, Service to Veterans By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USAAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2003 -- Secretary Anthony Principi made bold claims today on plans to transform the second largest federal department in the nation, promising veterans and America that the "Veterans Affairs will not be found wanting." Speaking before the National Press Club here, Principi said when President Bush named him to the helm of the VA three years ago, "He directed me to take whatever steps were necessary to improve VA's health care and our benefits- delivery systems."...

<p>The Bush administration on Tuesday backed away from sweeping legislative changes it had suggested that would have reduced disability benefits to some veterans.</p> <p>Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi said the administration and Congress need more time to study the far-reaching consequences that such changes could have on veterans, especially lower-ranking, enlisted members.</p>

....Strickland said Congress would need to approve increases in co-payments, but the VA could act on its own on re-enrollment fees. In 1996, Congress mandated that the VA adopt an enrollment system to manage health care for veterans. It gave the VA secretary the power to decide each year whether to continue to allow all veterans to enroll. What the VA came up with is an eight-tiered system that ranks veterans in terms of their medical needs. The "Priority 1" category includes veterans with service-related disabilities rated 50 percent or more disabling. At the bottom is the "Priority 8" category...