WASHINGTON, March 15 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Monday, along with Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), sent a letter urging the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to forgo any actions that would limit veterans’ ability to get their VA care at VA facilities in New Hampshire or Vermont. The letter follows the VA releasing its recommendations for the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission.

“We write to express concerns regarding the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission,” the Senators wrote in the letter. “We strongly urge the VA – and the nascent Commission – to forgo any actions that would limit veterans’ ability to get their VA care at VA facilities in New Hampshire or Vermont.”

The Senators continued, “While we are relieved that the recommendations recognize the value of the White River Junction and Manchester VA Medical Centers, we believe that VA services in our states should be bolstered, not reduced. The current recommendations risk moving towards privatization and decreased access to VA care for veterans. We strongly urge the VA and the Commission to prioritize New Hampshire and Vermont veterans’ access to VA care and services. As a country, we must honor the service of our veterans by keeping their physical and mental wellbeing at the forefront of our decisions. We will continue Congressional oversight of this process and look forward to engaging with the VA and the Commission as we ensure that our veterans receive the care they deserve.”

Sanders, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has long fought to protect and expand veterans’ care. Last year, Sanders introduced two bills to expand and improve comprehensive health care for veterans: The Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act and the Veterans State Eligibility Standardization Act. These bills would ensure universal dental care coverage for all veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs and eliminate long-standing barriers to health care for veterans across the country.

Read the full letter here.