MEDIA RELEASE

Gabbard Highlights Grave Concerns About Release of Taliban Detainees

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard questioned Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in a hearing Wednesday at the House Armed Services Committee on the prisoner swap to recover Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

She released the following statement detailing her concerns about the risk the prisoner swap will pose to national security:

“The first warrior ethos that all servicemembers abide by is, ‘I will always place the mission first.’ Although as a Soldier and veteran I know firsthand the importance of leaving no man behind, I also know that the context of each situation must be considered carefully to ensure that we are not compromising the mission: keeping our country and our people safe. The fact is: the five Taliban terrorists who were released are strategists and commanders, not foot soldiers, and as such, present a threat to the United States and our interests, wherever they are free to strategize with Taliban and other leaders, even while they remain in Qatar.

“The recent statements by the administration that these terrorists do not pose a significant threat are preposterous. The President’s Guantanamo Review Task Force in 2010 determined that these five were ‘too dangerous to transfer.’ The task force concluded that each of these five individuals ‘poses a high level of threat that cannot be mitigated sufficiently except through continued detention.’ Not only are they no longer detained, they have been sent to a country where the Taliban operates openly and legally, with a headquarters based there. Qatari officials have made it clear that they are free to move about, with no limitations on who they can meet with, further proving they are still a serious threat.

“Furthermore, this deal sets a dangerous precedent, and puts a target on the back of every American overseas, military and civilian.”

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Gabbard Votes to Speed Veterans Access to Care

Gabbard has voted to pass the Veterans Access to Care Act (H.R. 4810), a bill that will help veterans receive more timely access to medical care.

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 426-0 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

“More than 100,000 veterans in Hawaii and across the country are waiting to see a doctor, and tens of thousands of them are simply lost in the bureaucracy,” Gabbard said. “The Veterans Access to Care Act is a first step toward fixing the VA’s scheduling problems, but it does not go far enough to provide the flexibility for veterans to seek medical care outside the VA system. Even with this bill, veterans will still face obstacles to receiving care and would only be able to seek private healthcare if their wait time exceeds VA’s arbitrary wait time goals.

“Our veterans need care now. Last week, I called on President Obama to use his executive power to immediately allow veterans to receive care from private healthcare providers in their community, using their VA identification card. I will also be introducing legislation to do the same.”

The Veterans Access to Care Act would require VA to offer non-VA care at the department’s expense to any enrolled veteran who cannot get an appointment within VA wait time goals, or who lives more than 40 miles away from a VA medical facility.

Veterans would still need individual VA authorization to use a private provider of their choosing, even if the veteran already meets all necessary criteria to seek outside care.

Gabbard spoke Tuesday on the floor of the House of Representatives to reiterate her call for immediate solutions to connect veterans with the medical care they need.

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Gabbard: VA Delays in Hawaii Are Infuriating, Deeply Disappointing

Gabbard has released the following statement on the results of a nationwide face-to-face audit of scheduling practices within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The congresswoman reiterated her call for an immediate solution to this urgent crisis that would allow veterans to seek care outside of the VA health system’s bureaucratic pre-approval process.

“The results of the VA audit in Honolulu are infuriating, and deeply disappointing. Our Hawaii veterans deserve better than to wait 145 days for a simple primary care visit,” said Gabbard. “Last week, as I traveled all across Hawaii holding a Veterans Listening Tour, I heard from veterans of every conflict since WWII, from every county, about their challenges accessing VA healthcare. Some came with tears streaming down their face, as they begged for someone to please help them. It makes me sick knowing that our returned warriors are subject to begging for care when they come home. The time for immediate action has come and gone. There are over 100,000 veterans across the country who have been waiting 90 days or more for their very first appointment. Our veterans should not have to wait another day to get the care they have earned and deserve. They must not be told to wait for the VA to be fixed. Once again, I call on President Obama to use his executive authority now to address this crisis, and immediately enable veterans to access care within the private healthcare system using their VA identification card.”

Gabbard wrote to President Obama last week urging him to use his executive power to allow veterans to use their VA identification card to obtain medical care through the private health care system, with the VA covering the cost of care.

The congresswoman is also currently drafting legislation to give veterans the right to obtain private medical care as a temporary solution to this urgent crisis.

Gabbard’s Hawaii office can assist local veterans who feel they have been treated unfairly by the VA, or who have not received a timely response, for care or benefits.

Constituents may request assistance from Gabbard’s virtual office by filling out this online form (https://forms.house.gov/formsgabbard/webforms/help-federal-agency.shtml) or calling (808) 541-1986.

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Gabbard Visits Farms, Gardens, Fish Ponds, and Research Facilities that Promote Agriculture

In addition to hosting a Veterans Listening Tour across Hawaii, Gabbard met with local farmers and agricultural researchers to learn more about efforts to promote sustainability and increase the availability of healthy and affordable foods for people in Hawaii.

On Oahu, the congresswoman toured the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center’s Maunawili Substation, an 80-acre farm that is vital to sugarcane breeding, coffee, koa, and cocoa research, papaya and banana plant health initiatives, forestry research, and biofuel.

She also walked around the Heeia Fish Pond in Kaneohe with the Kamehameha Schools land manager and alumni and received a briefing on the cultural and historic aspects of the area, as well as the agricultural partnership opportunities.

In Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island, Rep. Gabbard met with the owners of Nutrex Hawaii and toured their farm, laboratory, and processing facility.

She learned about the Bioastin and Spirulina products that are locally made and distributed across the state and beyond.

In Wailuku on Maui, the congresswoman visited Kapuna Farms, which is run by Mikiala Freitas and other young adults who grew up on Maui and want to encourage a healthier lifestyle for their friends and family.

The farm provides organic produce, meats, eggs, honey, and poi to local families in an effort to encourage parents and their keiki to live a more sustainable and healthy life. While at the farm, Gabbard planted taro in the flooded loi.

Just down the road from Kapuna Farms, Gabbard toured Kumu Farms with Mike Atherton at Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu, where 2,000 acres of organic fruits and vegetables are the prime source of ingredients for several local restaurants and stores like Safeway and Whole Foods.

Their crops include eggplant, carrots, cabbage, kale, chard, lettuce, asparagus, cucumber, salad mix, peppers, tomatoes, beets, fennel, radishes, turnips, arugula, herbs, green beans, yellow beans, mango, strawberry, non-GMO sunrise papaya, apple bananas, and pineapple.

The congresswoman also stopped by a couple local shops that sell the farm’s produce and bath products scented from its herbs.

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Gabbard Presents Congressional Awards to Young Leaders from Hawaii’s Second District

Gabbard has announced the winners of the inaugural Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition, “The House STEM App Challenge.”

She congratulated first-place winner Tiger Oakes from Hawaii Island and runner-up Christopher Kim from Maui for the innovative phone and tablet applications – or “apps” – they created to participate in the district-wide competition, which included submissions from across the state.

“Hawaii students like Tiger Oakes and Christopher Kim are equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge to be future leaders that will solve the challenges of tomorrow,” said Gabbard, an advocate for promoting technology and innovation in Hawaii. “I’m so proud of Tiger, Christopher, and the many exemplary applicants who, at a young age, are already focused on developing their understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math so that they can apply it in an ever-evolving workforce that is eager to hire individuals with their talents, creativity, and passion.”

Oakes’ winning app, Big Island Buses, will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and on display at an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol.

Earlier, Gabbard presented the Congressional Bronze Medal Award to Brady Jernigan of Kaneohe. To earn the honor, Jernigan volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 425, of which he is a member, to assist others with their Eagle Scout projects, volunteered with a summer arts program for local students, focused on piano and acting, attended auditions and learned about stage, practiced lacrosse, and traveled to Washington, DC to tour the historic sites of the Nation’s Capital.

“I’m grateful to Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and the U.S. House for offering this wonderful program,” Jernigan said. “The program really does teach young people to value leadership and to not just work for your own interests, but to think about what you can do for others.”

The Congressional Award is the United States Congress’ accolade for young Americans.

It is non-partisan, voluntary, and open to all 14- to 23-year-olds. Participants earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold Congressional Award Medals, and each level involves setting goals in four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

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Gabbard Calls on President Obama to Authorize Fee Basis Care for Vets

Gabbard has announced that she has sent a letter to President Obama urging him to use his executive power to allow veterans to immediately access private medical care outside of the Veterans Affairs (VA) system without VA pre-approval and bureaucratic red tape.

“What the President and the VA have done so far to deal with this crisis is insufficient because it still leaves the health and well-being of our veterans in the hands of a broken system,” said Gabbard. “Many of our veterans urgently need medical care and they should not have to go another day without it.”

A veteran who has served two tours of duty in the Middle East, Gabbard said, “I have seen the wounds, both visible and invisible, of veterans I served with. To make any veteran wait for medical care is not only an emergency, it is a travesty.

“President Obama and Congress have the power to ensure that our veterans do not wait another week for care. They can’t afford to wait for a new head of the VA or for the systemic problems of the VA to be fixed. Nor should they. We must take action immediately, and to this effect I have sent the enclosed letter to President Obama. I am calling on him to use his executive powers to immediately allow veterans to use their VA identification cards to obtain medical care through the private health system.

“Furthermore, I plan to introduce legislation that will give our veterans the right to obtain private medical care using their VA cards over the next 12 months, at which point we can re-evaluate whether the VA problems have sufficiently been fixed.

“The time for action is now. People can talk as much as they want about how much they care for our veterans, but without action, it’s simply empty rhetoric.”

Gabbard’s letter to President Obama:

Dear Mr. President,

Aloha and best wishes to you and your family.

Many of our veterans urgently need medical care and they should not have to go another day without it. I have seen the wounds, both visible and invisible, of veterans I served with. To make any veteran wait for medical care is not only an emergency, it is a travesty.

Our veterans cannot afford to wait for a new head of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or for the systemic problems of the VA to be fixed. They need care now, and, as the President of the United States, it is within your power to make this happen. I’m calling on you to use your executive power to immediately allow our veterans to use their VA identification card to obtain medical care through the private health care system, with the VA paying the bill for any needed services. I urge you to take this action.

This is a crisis, and as such, private medical care must be available to veterans without VA pre-approval. Unfortunately, the so-called “emergency” measures which have recently been put in place still require veterans to undergo bureaucratic red tape to get the care they need—leaving their health and well-being in the hands of a broken system. Allowing veterans to use their VA identification card to obtain medical care through the private health system will solve the immediate problem.

No one knows exactly how long it will take for the systemic problems of the VA to be fixed. Until then, please implement this stopgap measure for the next 12 months or longer if necessary.