Lankford Statement on Resignation of VA Secretary Shinseki

Statement

Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.) issued the following statement after Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned today amid public pressure stemming from major problems impacting quality of care in the VA system:

"Secretary Shinseki served his country for decades in the U.S. Army, even after becoming a wounded warrior in Vietnam. His resignation comes amid a firestorm of mismanagement allegations at VA hospitals across the country, resulting from widespread, systemic problems with delivering care to our nation's heroes. To make real, successful reforms to this promised service for our veterans, a change in leadership is necessary. However, it's not just enough to make changes at the top. The VA disaster needs immediate attention from every angle, and the process of addressing the management failures and quality of care issues will be ongoing but compulsory. As the hard-working VA doctors, nurses and administrative personnel continue to dutifully serve our veteran community, we must all work together to turn the system around to deliver the quality health care our veterans deserve. They served us; now, we must keep our promise to them."

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