Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) meets with veterans during her two-day ‘Hoosier Veterans Tour’ during a stop in Kosciusko County on Tuesday.

Claypool – As part of the ‘Hoosier Veterans Tour’, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) stopped in Claypool today to meet with veterans and explain how a recently enacted law will improve access to health care for veterans. During the visit to Kosciusko County, Walorski held an open ended forum with veterans from around northern Indiana.

“Hearing from local veterans is what this tour is all about,” said Walorski. “Today was an opportunity to hear from our men and women on topics they think are important for me to take back to Washington. It was also a chance to talk about the new VA law I supported that allows rural vets to see their local doctors instead of traveling for hours to a VA facility.”

Walorski visited Claypool during her two-day district tour in recognition of the 54,000 veterans that live in the 2nd Congressional District. Over the course of two days, Walorski, a member of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee and member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, will tour VA faculties that provide care to veterans, businesses that hire veterans and companies that make products to support veterans – all in an effort to improve their overall quality of life.

“From Elkhart to Warsaw, I’m traveling to every corner of northern Indiana to see what tools our communities need to make our veterans’ lives a little easier. From their access to healthcare, educational benefits and job opportunities, I want to know what I can do to help and what else needs to be done to ease their transition from service to civilian life.”

The stop also provided Walorski with the opportunity to discuss legislation she supported that was signed into law last week that will help veterans in rural areas in need of care.  President Obama signed H.R. 3230, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, which Walorski supported as a House conferee.  The legislation was drafted in response to news across the country that veterans requesting doctor appointments were put on long waiting lists which resulted in many VA facilities falsifying and covering up wait times.

The new law, which passed the House and Senate earlier this month with overwhelming bipartisan support, gives veterans greater access to health care if they live in a rural area or must wait over 30 days to see a doctor. In addition, it provides funding for additional doctors, nurses and healthcare workers. Lastly, it gives the Secretary the authority to fire poorly performing executives, just like any other company, which is almost impossible to do under the current system.