Rep. Ruben Gallego Launches New Veterans Health Survey in Arizona’s 7th District
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) invited thousands of veterans across Arizona's 7th District to share their experience with the Veterans Health Administration, including veterans who may be affected by the VA's recent implementation of the VA Mission Act, which will make changes to the VA's community care programs.
Veterans of every major conflict over the 20th and 21st centuries face unique health challenges. An estimated one in five veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The VA is tasked with addressing these conditions, among countless others, in upholding its responsibility to care for all Americans in uniform.
The 2019 VA health survey for veterans in Arizona's 7th district can be found here. The survey was distributed to 3,000 veterans via physical mail, over 1,000 veterans by email, and will be promoted online through social media and Rep. Gallego's website.
Rep. Ruben Gallego released the following statement:
"As a veteran, I am committed to understanding the issues that veterans and service members face in accessing earned VA health care services and benefits. These individuals reach above and beyond the call of duty in service to our country, and I know how critical it is to combat the array of health conditions they face – especially the stigma and barriers surrounding access to mental health care. That is why I'm reaching out to each and every veteran and service member in my district to collect their thoughts on the VA, listen to their challenges, and incorporate their ideas to make measurable improvements to VA clinics, programs, and other services.
"I hope to hear back from the constituents in my district who rely on the VA for their health needs. I intend to use their feedback to work with the Phoenix VA on initiatives to raise the level of care we are able to provide to our veterans. We can't resolve the VA's shortcomings and address new challenges in veterans' health without being able to identify those issues first. We must do better to serve the brave citizens in uniform who have served us, and the way to start is by asking them about their experiences.
"By opening this important conversation about the state of veterans' health care with my constituents, we are taking steps to ensure our troops receive the proper treatment they earned, need, and deserve."
Rep. Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee.