Press Releases

"I am so very pleased that the Aqua Quest crew - Robert Mayne, James Kelly Garrett, Devon Butler, Nick Cook, Steve Matanich, and Michael Mayne - will be coming home. The case against them was dismissed, and rightfully so. They traveled to Honduras to help people, and were wrongfully incarcerated in deplorable conditions. Their release, while long overdue, is a relief to all, especially their families and friends. These men deserve their freedom, and now, thankfully, they can return immediately to the waiting arms of their loved ones.

"It is vital that Veterans receive the care they need, but it is important to recognize that one size does not fit all when discussing treatments for Veterans and the invisible wounds endured from their service to our great nation. While many Veterans may thrive under evidence-based treatment plans, some may not be as responsive to this traditional medical care. As such, we need to provide them with choices and easy access to alternative forms of therapies that work best for them," said Bilirakis.

ICYMI: Gus Bilirakis: VA Medical Facilities Need Major Reforms

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice-chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, called for major reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs. In recent weeks, the department has been under scrutiny after reports emerged that VA medical centers were using altered wait lists.

"The VA has systemic failures that promote a culture of mediocrity and discourage transparency and accountability, which has resulted in a backlog of Veterans' claims coupled with excessive and outrageous wait times to receive care," Bilirakis said. "Part of this stems from the VA's inability to provide timely access to quality care for veterans. Unfortunately, it has taken the preventable deaths of dozens of Veterans to spur the VA to change.

"The federal government can adopt policies that create an environment in which private industry can succeed, and health care is no exception. Through the proper economic incentives, Congress can boost investment in areas that lack effective and accessible treatments," Bilirakis said. "This will provide Americans across the country with the ability to obtain affordable medications they may not have otherwise received."

"The wait times Veterans are forced to deal with are beyond unacceptable. It is an outrage," said Bilirakis. "These brave women and men served courageously and some suffered mental and physical wounds for the freedoms we all enjoy every day. They deserve proper care for that sacrifice," Bilirakis said.

"The excessive wait times at the VA are outrageous, and Veterans deserve an alternative when they are subjected to an unreasonable delay in access to care. This is about providing the Veteran with choice. This bill provides deserving heroes with that choice, if the VA doesn't meet the standards for timely access to care. This legislation is a step in the right direction to ensure our nation's heroes receive that care at a level of quality they expect and deserve," said Bilirakis.

"I have spent the past several months participating in oversight hearings in Washington regarding the failures of the VA throughout the country. Having spent a great deal of time at facilities in our community over the last several years, I know that there are many wonderful public servants working at our local VA offices. However, I need to hear directly from those who matter most, our Veterans and their families, in order to get the clear picture regarding how these systemic national problems may be impacting my constituents.