Issue Position: Veterans - Protecting Veterans Health

Issue Position

I firmly believe that our nation must fully honor the commitments and the promises it has made to our veterans. Ensuring access to quality health care is one of the most basic of these commitments. With a growing number of injured and disabled veterans as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we must recommit our nation to ensuring that our VA health system is protected and strengthened.

Like all Americans, I am angered and saddened by the news of deteriorating facilities and disjointed care afforded to some out-patient service members and their families at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The fact that similar systemic failures are occurring throughout the military and veterans' health care system is deeply troubling and these problems must be remedied immediately.

I deeply regret that it took so long for these serious problems to come to light, and thank those service members, family members, and veterans, who've come forward to share their stories in recent days. There is no excuse for neglect or poor treatment of any of our service members or veterans. Those wounded who received inadequate or disrespectful care must receive an apology and the treatment their sacrifices deserve. All of our service members and veterans must believe that the American people and our government are as committed to their well-being as they are to ours.

I am heartened by the speed with which Congress has responded in providing oversight and addressing systemic failures. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Armed Services both have held hearings to question those accountable, to rectify the problems, and to restructure the management, facilities, and integration of services.

I have confidence in former UW-Madison Chancellor and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) to lead the Presidential Commission investigating problems at the nation's military and veterans' hospitals. Both Secretary Shalala and Senator Dole have the expertise and fortitude to lead a thorough investigation and find solutions to the problems. I intend to work with my colleagues to ensure that all American service members and veterans receive the medical care they richly deserve.

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