Dear John,

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Last week marked a significant milestone: the 10-year anniversary of the Phoenix VA scandal, in which at least 40 veterans died while waiting for care because the VA lied about wait times.

A decade past this heart-wrenching scandal, many veterans continue to face challenges in accessing quality and timely care—not only in Phoenix but across the entire country.

According to recent data from the VA, wait times for primary care and mental health appointments still exceed the recommended guidelines, ranging from 20 to 59 days and 45 to 105 days, respectively.

It’s an ongoing struggle our veterans endure to obtain the healthcare we were promised and deserve.

Last week, CVA hosted press conferences in Phoenix and in Washington, D.C. to commemorate this solemn anniversary and demand legislative solutions to improve veterans' access to community care.

Several news outlets covered these events:

• DC News Now highlighted the solemn milestone and the persistent challenges faced by veterans in accessing timely medical care.
• Fox 5 DC reported on Senator Marsha Blackburn's sponsorship of the Veteran Health Care Reform Act, which aims to give all veterans "full choice,” the ability to use their health benefits either at the VA or community care providers, without needing VA preapproval.
• ABC 15 Arizona and 12 News echoed the sentiments of our veteran advocates, who are demanding immediate action from Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to address systemic failures.
• AZ Family and Arizona PBS revisited the whistleblower revelations from 2014, emphasizing the enduring nature of the issues highlighted by the Phoenix VA scandal.

As we reflect on this anniversary, let us not tire from this fight.

Through these events and remembering, we recommit ourselves to supporting our nation's veterans and advocating for meaningful reforms in our VA health care system.

Together, we can honor the memory of those we lost by ensuring that every veteran receives the timely and quality care they deserve.