Jen Kiggans Voted For The Republican Led Debt Ceiling Plan That The VA Said Would Lead To Cuts In Services And Staff
Kiggans Voted For H.R. 2811 Which Would Have Suspended The Debt Limit Through March 2024
Kiggans Voted For Suspending The Debt Limit Through March 2024 Or Until $1.5 Trillion Has Been Reached And Capping Federal Spending For FY 2024 At 2022 Levels With A Capped 1% Per Year Growth. In April 2023, Kiggans voted for: “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would suspend the statutory limit on federal debt through March 31, 2024, or until an additional $1.5 trillion has been borrowed — whichever occurs first. It would also include a range of provisions to limit federal spending, as well as the text of a previously passed energy and permitting policy package. The bill would set base discretionary spending limits through fiscal 2033, capping spending for fiscal 2024 at the fiscal 2022 level of $1.47 trillion — a reduction from current spending levels — and raising the cap by 1 percent annually through fiscal 2033. It would also include similar annual cap adjustments for specified programs, including for wildfire suppression, disability reviews and redeterminations, health care fraud and abuse control, and disaster reemployment services and eligibility assessments. The bill would rescind unobligated amounts from various funds provided by the fiscal 2022 reconciliation package (PL 117-169) for COVID-19 relief, IRS enforcement, and certain climate- and infrastructure-focused initiatives, as well as all unobligated funding from the March 2021 coronavirus relief reconciliation package (PL 117-2) and earlier coronavirus response laws. The bill would expand or establish work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries aged 19 to 55 and raise from 49 to 55 the oldest age at which existing work requirements would apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries. It would also modify various work standards for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, including to update the baseline for calculating certain state workforce participation standards and require states to collect certain data related to work outcomes for TANF participants. To limit regulatory spending, the bill would nullify pending executive actions suspending student loan payments and prohibit the Education Department from implementing any substantially similar actions without congressional approval. It would also establish a process to require congressional approval of all “major” federal rules that would have an annual impact of at least $100 million, cause a major increase in prices, or cause significant adverse effects to economic competitiveness. Among energy- and climate-focused provisions, the bill would repeal, phase out or narrow a variety of climate-focused tax credits under the fiscal 2022 reconciliation package, including repealing new credits for solar and wind projects, sustainable aviation fuel and clean fuel production. It would also include the full text of the House-passed energy and permitting package (HR 1) that would require a number of actions to boost the domestic production of fossil fuels and certain critical minerals and accelerate the construction of natural gas pipelines and other energy infrastructure, while reversing or repealing certain presidential actions taken and laws enacted during the Biden administration related to energy policy and climate change.” The bill passed by a vote of 217-215. [H.R. 2811, Vote #199, 4/26/23; CQ, 4/26/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Voted For “30 Million Fewer Veteran Outpatient Visits, And 81,000 Jobs Lost Across The Veterans Health Administration”
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would “Would Mean 30 Million Fewer Veteran Outpatient Visits, And 81,000 Jobs Lost Across The Veterans Health Administration.” “The proposal would mean 30 million fewer Veteran outpatient visits, and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration, leaving Veterans unable to get appointments for care including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
Cutting Federal Spending By 22% Meant 31 Million Fewer Veteran Outpatient Visits And 81,000 Layoffs Across The Veterans Health Administration, Leaving Vets Vulnerable. “Cutting funding by 22 percent would mean 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits, and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration— leaving veterans unable to get appointments for care including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment.” [The White House, 4/20/23]
Kiggans, A Nurse Practitioner, Voted To Decrease Outpatient Visits, To “Impair VA’s Ability To Expand Video-To-Home Telehealth Services,” And to Cut Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would “Would Mean 30 Million Fewer Veteran Outpatient Visits.” “The proposal would mean 30 million fewer Veteran outpatient visits, and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration, leaving Veterans unable to get appointments for care including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 “Would Impair VA’s Ability To Expand Video-To-Home Telehealth Services.” “Access to remote care through telehealth is essential for Veterans, particularly in rural areas. By reducing funding for necessary IT infrastructure and support, the proposal would impair VA’s ability to expand video-to-home telehealth services and limit the availability of medical equipment that can be provided to Veterans so they can attend important telehealth appointments from home.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 “Would Mean Deep Cuts To Department Of Health And Human Services Community Mental Health Centers, Mental Health And Substance Use Prevention Grants, And Other Public Health Programs.” “Deprive Veterans of mental health, substance use, and other health services. This proposal would mean deep cuts to Department of Health and Human Services community mental health centers, mental health and substance use prevention grants, and other public health programs. Supporting Veterans and their families in the community, especially those not enrolled in VA health care, has been a priority for HHS and these cuts could reduce access to timely care and services.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Voted To Increase Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would Increase Veterans Affairs Claims Backlog. “Under the proposal, the Veterans Benefits Administration would eliminate more than 6,000 staff, increasing the disability claims backlog by an estimated 134,000 claims and forcing Veterans and their surviving loved ones to wait longer for the benefits they have earned, including pensions, life insurance, GI Bill educational supports, and employment services.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Vote To Cut Up To “$565 Million For Major Construction Projects”
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Could Cut Funding Up To “$565 Million For Major Construction Projects.” “Veterans deserve to receive care in state-of-the-art facilities, but the median VA hospital was built nearly 60 years ago – compared to just 13 years ago in the private sector. This proposal would cut up to $565 million for major construction projects, including critical clinical upgrades to hospitals and clinics. These cuts would negatively impact Veteran health care across America.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Voted To Jeopardize Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration’s “Ability To Maintain The Final Resting Place Of Veterans”
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would Jeopardize Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration’s “Ability To Maintain The Final Resting Place Of Veterans.” “The proposal would require VA’s National Cemetery Administration to eliminate approximately 500 staff, jeopardize NCA’s ability to maintain the final resting place of Veterans to national shrine standards, and delay the opening of 5 new national cemeteries that will serve nearly 1.6 million Veterans and eligible family members.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Voted To Cut Housing For Veterans
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would Cut Housing For Veterans. “These proposed cuts would negatively impact Veterans who access critical services across the federal government. Specifically, these proposed cuts would: Cut Housing for Veterans. Every Veteran deserves a good, safe home in this country they fought to defend. The proposal would eliminate funding for Housing Choice Vouchers for as many as 50,000 Veterans, putting them at greater risk of homelessness.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Voted To Cut SNAP Benefits For Veterans
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would Cut SNAP Benefits For Veterans. “About 1.3 million Veterans rely on SNAP. This proposal would take food assistance away from Veterans who are older by adding burdensome, bureaucratic requirements, and it would limit states’ flexibility to protect especially vulnerable people currently subject to work requirements. That would increase the likelihood that Veterans and their families go hungry.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]
According To Veterans Affairs, Kiggans Voted To Eliminate Support for Homeless Veterans
According To Veterans Affairs, H.R. 2811 Would Eliminate Support for Homeless Veterans. “Eliminate Job Training and Other Supports to Homeless Veterans. The proposal would mean that 4,200 fewer Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness would receive job training, counseling, and job readiness services provided through the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program.” [VA, Press Release, 4/21/23]