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Congressman Cohen Testifies before Veterans Affairs Committee

May 26, 2021

Seeks more resources for VA Medical Center in Memphis and local veteran contractor preference on VA improvement projects

improvement projects

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today submitted written testimony during a Veterans Affairs Committee hearing seeking input from Members of Congress who are not members of the Veterans Affairs Committee. In his submission, Congressman Cohen urged the Committee to devote more resources to the VA Medical Center in Memphis and to consider his H.R. 800, the Preference for Local Veteran Contractors Act. He also encouraged the Committee to continue telemedicine services for Veterans beyond the pandemic and to quickly find solutions to resolve the backlog of 500,000 claims at the Veterans National Personnel Records Center.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"I am pleased to offer my suggestions to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and to do all I can to improve the lives of veterans in our community. Our VA Medical Center awaits capital improvements to meet its critical missions and needs additional resources so that our Veterans can receive the quality care they expect and deserve. I urged the Committee to bear this in mind as it considers VA priorities. I also commended to the Committee's attention to my Preference for Local Veteran Contractors Act, to give veteran-owned businesses preference for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) projects. The bill stipulates that veteran-owned businesses located within 60 miles of where the VA project is scheduled to be completed would be given preference over a company headquartered across the country. This would improve employment prospects in the local communities the VA serves. I look forward to seeing these initiatives advanced on the Committee's agenda in the months ahead."

Congressman Cohen re-introduced the Preference for Local Veteran Contractors Act on February 4, 2021. He has introduced versions of the bill in each Congress since 2013.