Va Police Improvement and Accountability Act

Floor Speech

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act, H.R. 2429. This bill takes important steps to strengthen oversight and accountability for VA police and law enforcement operations.

A number of shortcomings with VA's law enforcement operations were identified in a hearing held by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs last Congress. Inadequate policing procedures and a lack of true oversight for the Department's police force were two of the pressing issues raised at the hearing.

Challenges with management and oversight of VA police were also revealed in subsequent reports issued by the VA Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. These challenges include insufficient officer staffing, inappropriate conduct, and other concerning issues at VA facilities across the country.

On Long Island, I have worked with one of my constituents who was horribly mistreated by the Northport VA police. Our veterans deserve much better from an agency that is always supposed to be on their side.

My bill aims to address these pressing issues with the VA police by requiring the VA police to implement the use of body cameras, improve data collection and reporting on police incidents at VA facilities, and enact other important measures to strengthen oversight and transparency for VA's police program.

Madam Speaker, I thank my Republican co-lead, Representative Radewagen, for joining me on this bill. I also thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for helping to bring H.R. 2429 to the floor today.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation to help us better serve and protect our Nation's veterans.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source