West Florida News

SARASOTA —  U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today joined Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) in a town hall event to discuss his legislation, The Veterans True Choice Act, that would help to fix the V.A.'s failures. CVA Deputy Director John Byrnes, CVA Florida Grassroots Engagement Director, David Huston, and CVA Florida Strategic Director, Brian Fay hosted the event at Bayfront Community Center.

"As someone who utilizes the V.A. system myself, I know the frustration veterans in Southwest Florida experience when dealing with the V.A. Florida's 17th district is home to 75,000 veterans, including many who feel underserved or wrongly served," said Rep. Greg Steube. "I take seriously Congress's oversight authority to expose and root out corruption as part of our duty to ensure veterans have timely and quality access to health care resources. I appreciate hearing from veterans and their families so I can better advocate for critical changes. Thank you to CVA for hosting this Town Hall, and most importantly, thank you to all who have served. Our nation owes you a huge debt of gratitude." 

"It’s important to have these conversations with other veterans in the community and to work with our elected officials to advocate for common sense solutions that increase choice and secure veterans’ access to timely and quality care. Veterans have a powerful voice in policy and here at Concerned Veterans for America, it’s our mission to empower those voices," said David Huston, CVA Florida Grassroots Engagement Director. 

Discussions included the ongoing problems with the VA health care system and the demand that leaders of both parties in Congress work toward VA reform legislation to hold the VA accountable to the veterans it vowed to serve.

Congressman Steube and David Huston authored an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune on Tuesday about veterans' struggles with the VA, both locally and federally. Read it here: The VA should not make veterans feel hopeless. Let's act now to prevent that.

Congressman Steube is the sponsor of the Veterans True Choice Act, which will expand healthcare options for disabled veterans and enable service-connected veterans the ability to use TRICARE Select and TRICARE for Life. This legislation would allow veterans to use community care providers if a local Veterans Affairs (VA) facility does not offer the necessary services. The legislation would both give veterans an option to use a trusted and known entity for their benefits, while alleviating pressure on the VA so it can see veterans in a timely manner.

Immediately after graduating from the University of Florida with both undergraduate and law degrees, Congressman Steube answered the call to serve in the war on terror following the September 11th attacks. Enlisting in the U.S. Army, Congressman Steube served with distinction from 2004 to 2008 as an Airborne Infantry Officer and a JAG Corps Officer. Congressman Steube served as the Chief of Detainee Operations for Multinational Division North in Iraq with the 25th Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006-2007. 

Original source can be found here.