Friend,

California’s 49th Congressional district is home to one of the largest concentrations of veterans in the country. I have the distinct privilege of running to represent YOU. Veterans affairs is something near and dear to me. My father served in the artillery in World War II in the European theatre. When I meet with veterans in the district I am often reminded of my father and veterans who have served and the sacrifices they make. It’s our job to make sure when they come home they receive all the benefits they are entitled to, especially their healthcare.

While the VA certainly has come a long way, there are still improvements we can make to guarantee our veterans world class healthcare. Veterans in Oceanside currently wait an average of 107 days for dental care, 66 days for dermatology, 178 days for G.I. procedures and 70 days for mental health care. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.  The VA MISSION Act created an abundance of new options for veterans to seek access to care outside of the traditional VA health care system to meet their individual needs. It is vital that the VA follow the guidance in the MISSION Act in order to allow access to Community Care and help alleviate some of the VA backlog. As your Congressman I will work diligently to ensure that veterans receive timely and quality care, whether within the VA or Community Care. I am not looking to replace the VA, but rather supplement it.

My opponent, on the other hand, co-sponsored a bill that would decimate TRICARE and force everyone onto one government-run healthcare plan... This is despicable, and frankly, dangerous.

I will work to expand healthcare choices, not eliminate them. It’s only with your help, once elected to Congress, that I will be able to implement the changes needed to make Veteran’s healthcare the best in the world. Our men and women deserve nothing less!

Brian