Fischer, Bacon, Lamb Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Reauthorize CHIP IN For Vets Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative Conor Lamb (D-Penn.) today introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the CHIP IN for Vets Act for an additional five years. The legislation allows local communities across the country to assist with the planning and construction of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities.

"Last summer, Omaha's new VA ambulatory care clinic opened its doors to veterans. The project was ahead of schedule and under budget as a result of the successful public-private partnership enabled by my CHIP In for Vets Act. Today we are introducing legislation to reauthorize this program so that more American communities can provide for their veterans as Nebraska has done," said Senator Fischer.

"Public-private partnerships and projects have benefited Nebraska's 2nd District, the state, and the United States because they've allowed the community to invest in and help create facilities that benefit our nation's veterans. We need to provide high-quality and modern health services to our veterans, and I thank Sen. Fischer and Rep. Lamb for their partnership on this effort. I also salute my friend, former Congressman Brad Ashford, who has championed this legislation since the beginning. His unwavering support for our veterans and community helped make this program what it is today and set in motion future public-private projects," said Rep. Bacon.

"Congress needs to ensure the VA has every tool and resource necessary to serve our veterans. We've seen the benefits of the CHIP IN for Vets Act and by extending this program we will protect the VA's ability to work with external partners to provide the highest level of care in the most communities," said Rep. Lamb.

"I applaud Don Bacon, Deb Fischer, and Conor Lamb for the introduction of this legislation to reauthorize the Chip-In Act. I was proud to work on the original legislation with my colleagues which included Senator Fischer with the support of Rep. Bacon, which led to a new VA medical facility in Omaha. Our Veterans deserve the best health care and facilities possible. The reauthorization of this program will pave way for future projects to aid in providing first-class health care to our Veterans," said Brad Ashford, former Congressman of Nebraska's 2nd District.

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The original CHIP IN for Vets Act, led by Senator Fischer and passed by Congress in 2016, authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow local communities to manage construction of VA projects. The VA has already appropriated millions of dollars to construction projects that remain unfinished or have not yet begun, and this program allows communities to take the lead, contributing the remaining finances to ensure these projects are completed on-time and on-budget. Today's new legislation reauthorizes the program for another five years.

The CHIP IN program enabled the construction of Omaha's $86 million VA ambulatory care clinic, helping to raise an additional $30 million after Congress appropriated $56 million for the project.

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