Our Veterans Need an Accountable VA

Statement

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy released the following statement on House passage of H.R. 1991, the VA Accountability Act of 2015:

"Years after major problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) came to light, our veterans still aren't getting the care they need. The VA continues to have a culture of unaccountability, and our veterans are suffering the consequences. To date, only three people have been successfully fired for manipulating wait times at the VA. Yet dozens of veterans, if not more, have died waiting for care and more continue to wait. This is unacceptable.

"The problems in the VA aren't caused by one or two or even three people. It is caused by a lack of accountability and a system of job security that protects employees even at the expense of the veterans they are supposed to serve. This bill to bring accountability to the VA is not about punishment. This is about putting our veterans, their health, their well-being, their choice, and their care above a job protection for a VA employee who would rather change the numbers and get a promotion than save lives.

"We owe it to our veterans to send a message that their lives are more important than protecting the jobs of those who failed them."

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