Political Quotes

“Last year, in the midst of the explosive allegations about the Phoenix VA's keeping secondary unofficial records of claims and appointment requests, I offered a similar amendment that passed this body which prohibited funds from being used to create or to maintain unofficial recordkeeping systems at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This year, I am proud, once again, to offer this commonsense policy with the support of my friend and colleague from Georgia. As many of you know, several whistleblowers came forward with allegations that the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Healthcare System had been using secondary unofficial records of veterans claims and appointment requests to misrepresent the actual wait times that veterans faced as they sought health care. Some employees within the VA even received bonuses as a result of these manipulations. It is unfortunate that, over the past year, many of these once unthinkable allegations have become substantiated. Recently, an inspector general's investigation uncovered actual memos from VA leadership that encouraged this type of behavior. This is outrageous. The memo I speak of is known as the ``Fast Letter 13-10,'' and it was handed down directly from the Office of the Director of Veterans Benefits Administration to the Philadelphia VA Regional Office. I am appalled but not totally surprised to learn of this memo. I have said this before, but it is sad that we have to pass amendments to prevent this type of behavior.…”