Letter to David Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Senator John McCain Urges VA Secretary To Address Potential Funding Shortfall For Veterans Choice Program

Letter

Dear Secretary Shulkin,

I am writing to address the recent news from the Associated Press that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be facing yet another funding shortfall for the Veterans Choice Program.

As you are aware, earlier this year, Congress eliminated the sunset date on the program in order to allow the remaining $1.1 billion in Choice funding to be applied to the program, which you testified would extend Choice well into the next fiscal year.

On June 21 of this year, I joined several of my colleagues in writing to you to express our serious concerns about reports of financial mismanagement at the VA. We said at the time that it was essential, given the growing demand for care under the Choice program, that the VA immediately correct the failures that created such a serious shortfall. It appears as if you have not done so.

Please provide me with answers to the following questions by the end of the week:

1) Is the VA facing a third funding shortfall for the Choice Program this year?

2) Will funding for the Choice program remain available, as you have testified, well into next fiscal year?

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

John McCain

United States Senator

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