Jones Votes to Support Veterans' Care and Constitutional Rights | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) continued his steadfast support of veterans and voted for passage of H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act; H.R. 1367, To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and H.R. 1181, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act.

    "We must defend the men and women who've defended us," said Congressman Jones. "This week, my colleagues and I advanced important legislation to ensure our veterans work with the finest VA employees and that they are never unfairly stripped of their 2nd amendment constitutional rights."

• H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act, would allow for the removal or demotion of employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs based on performance, misconduct, or other purposes. This resolution passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 237-178 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
• H.R. 1367, to improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, works in tandem with H.R. 1259 and would ensure the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has a streamlined process to hire the best physicians, nurses, and employees for veterans. H.R. 1367 passed the House of Representatives unanimously by a vote of 412-0 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
• H.R. 1181, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, would clarify the conditions in which veterans are deemed "mentally incompetent." Currently, veterans who are unable to manage their VA benefits or finances are placed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and therefore, denied their right to purchase or maintain firearms. This legislation would do away with that practice and place the decision in the court system. H.R. 1181 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 240-175 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

    For additional information, please contact Allison Tucker in Congressman Jones' office at (202) 225-3415 or allison.tucker@mail.house.gov.