VIDEO: Harder Takes to House Floor to Demand VA Secretary to Fix Doctor Shortage at Stockton VA Clinic

WASHINGTON -- Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) gave a fiery speech on the House floor to demand VA Secretary Dennis McDonough fix the physician shortage at the Stockton VA clinic. After the Stockton clinic lost half of its physicians earlier this year, appointment wait times jumped to over 90 days for San Joaquin County veterans. Rep. Harder held a Veteran’s Town Hall earlier this month to hear directly from veterans across the Central Valley and collect petitions urging action from Secretary McDonough and the Veterans Affairs Department.

Watch Rep. Harder’s full speech HERE and find the transcript below.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand here today beyond frustrated by the crisis in veterans’ healthcare in my community.

Right now, we have just 4 physicians and only 2 mental health clinicians trying to provide care for over 27,000 veterans in San Joaquin County.

Veterans are waiting up to 90 days to even speak to a doctor or get something as simple as a prescription refilled.

That’s the longest wait time in the state of California and frankly, it’s a disgrace.

One of our veterans recently had to have his leg amputated because he couldn’t see a doctor to get his diabetes medication refilled. It’s unacceptable.

I know our local VA staff are doing everything they can, but now we need Secretary McDonough to step in and help.

We need more doctors, and we need them now.

I have petitions right here in my hand from veterans across our community begging for a response and an action plan from the Secretary and the VA.

We need answers. 

These brave men and women fought and sacrificed for our country. The last thing that they need to do is fight for their healthcare right now.

It’s time to fix this.

I yield back.

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