Baldwin Bill to Cultivate Next Generation of Veterans Health Professionals Clears House and Senate, Heads to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives has passed U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s bipartisan Veterans’-Specific Education for Tomorrow’s Health Professionals Act of 2019 (VET HP Act). The bill passed the U.S. Senate last week and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The shortage of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physicians and medical professionals has been a major problem for VA medical centers across the country, forcing VA facilities to provide care with fewer staff than are medically necessary to properly care for our nation’s veterans. The VET HP Act would direct the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) to create a one-year pilot program in at least five VA medical centers for pre-med students to gain clinical observation experience, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of veterans’ specific health needs and experiences, while creating a viable pipeline of future medical professionals in the process. “We have a shared responsibility to do right by our veterans and that includes making sure our doctors and nurses are trained and well-equipped to deliver the highest quality care to those who have served,” said Senator Baldwin. “Students interested in a medical career need better access to training opportunities, and our VA medical centers need to attract a workforce with more exposure to the VA system at an earlier stage in their education in order to better understand veterans’ specific health needs. I am proud my bipartisan legislation has passed both chambers of Congress because it will help train the next generation of health professionals and ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve.” The VET HP Act previously passed the House of Representatives in March 2019 after being introduced by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). The VET HP Act passed the U.S. Senate in December 2020 as a part of a broad veterans legislative package and had to be voted on again in the House. This bill has been endorsed by the American Legion and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). An online version of this release is available here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives has passed U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s bipartisan Veterans’-Specific Education for Tomorrow’s Health Professionals Act of 2019 (VET HP Act). The bill passed the U.S. Senate last week and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The shortage of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) physicians and medical professionals has been a major problem for VA medical centers across the country, forcing VA facilities to provide care with fewer staff than are medically necessary to properly care for our nation’s veterans.
“We have a shared responsibility to do right by our veterans and that includes making sure our doctors and nurses are trained and well-equipped to deliver the highest quality care to those who have served,” said Senator Baldwin. “Students interested in a medical career need better access to training opportunities, and our VA medical centers need to attract a workforce with more exposure to the VA system at an earlier stage in their education in order to better understand veterans’ specific health needs. I am proud my bipartisan legislation has passed both chambers of Congress because it will help train the next generation of health professionals and ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve.”
The VET HP Act previously passed the House of Representatives in March 2019 after being introduced by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). The VET HP Act passed the U.S. Senate in December 2020 as a part of a broad veterans legislative package and had to be voted on again in the House. This bill has been endorsed by the American Legion and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).
An online version of this release is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Baldwin Wraps Up “fighting for Wisconsin Families” Tour After Nearly 45 Stops
Aug 29th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinIn month-long tour, Baldwin highlights work to lower costs as Republicans gut Medicaid and nutrition assistance and Donald Trump’s trade war drags on
Baldwin Calls Out Trump Firing Independent Railroad Regulator as Favor to Railroad Owners and Wall Street
Aug 28th, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinTrump fired Surface Transportation Board Member Robert Primus as Board weighs merger of two of the biggest railroad companies
Senator Baldwin Introduces Bill to Provide Healthcare For All Troops
Aug 21st, 2025 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinRoughly 130,000 men and women in the National Guard and Reserve do not have health insurance