Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Our veterans have sacrificed a great deal for our freedom and we have an important responsibility to care for them. Throughout my career in the House of Representatives I have advocated and voted for several programs that were aimed at positively affecting the quality of life for our veterans.

In 2014, the story broke that the Veterans Affairs (VA) facility in Phoenix, Arizona had several of our veterans on long waiting lists to receive the health care they desperately needed. It was even reported that several of our veterans had died while waiting for their treatments.

Several investigations ensued following these revelations, both from the Office of the Inspector General and from Congress. These investigations revealed that the records at the VA were manipulated to show shorter wait times for health care services. Further reports from the investigations showed that bonuses were given to several VA employees, despite these long waiting lists.

Following the release of these findings, Congress passed several pieces of legislation that reformed the Office of Veterans Affairs. On June 10, 2014 the Congress passed, with my support, the Veterans Access to Care Act of 2014. This bill authorized the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with non-VA facilities to ensure that our veterans get the health care they need quickly rather than being placed on waiting lists for VA hospitals. The bill also prevented the Secretary from providing bonuses to VA employees for FY2014-FY2015.

I will continue to work to ensure that veterans are treated with the dignity and honor they deserve and that the Department of Veterans' Affairs is given the tools it needs to do its job, and do it well. Americans appreciate all their service and sacrifice.

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