As Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our veterans receive the care and support they have earned.

Last week, we sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, underscoring the need to address staffing shortages that are impacting 97% of our VA health clinics and presented a Minnesota-based solution to address it.

In Minnesota, it is common for 16 to 18 year olds to work as certified nursing assistants in non-VA health clinics, nursing homes, and other care facilities. Our letter highlighted the success of this approach to addressing staffing shortages and urged the Secretary to clarify hiring eligibility for individuals 16 to 18 in VA health care facilities. In non-VA healthcare settings, this strategy has proven effective in alleviating staffing shortages. It only makes sense to allow VA health facilities, like the one in St. Cloud, to hire these individuals to provide a greater level of care to our veterans. 

Many veterans struggle to receive the benefits they have earned. We want to make sure every veteran in Minnesota has access to the resources they need. 

It is our duty to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality of care available. By pursuing common-sense solutions to support our veterans, we will uphold our commitment to those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.