Political Quotes

“Today I rise in support of H.R. 280, legislation to allow the VA Secretary to claw back bonuses from senior employees who were found to have manipulated veterans' care data. Frankly, I can't believe that this wasn't already the case. No business in America would allow employees to not only stay at work, but to hold on to bonuses that they earned by cooking the books. This is exactly what the VA has done. The VA has paid more than $380,000 in 2013 to directors and top executives at VA hospitals that were under investigation for falsifying data. I am the father of a veteran. I know exactly the character of those who choose to serve the cause of freedom. They deserve so much better. Bonuses should be awarded only for exceptional performance. This kind of severe mismanagement has to end. I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say it will not be tolerated by this Congress. Secretary McDonald says he is working to change the culture of the VA, and I give him credit for that. Too often the VA seems to be focusing on the health of the organization, not the health of the veteran. I agree with him that the VA must return the focus to the veteran. However, I would like to see more meaningful strides toward accountability than I have seen thus far. Congress will keep giving him the tools, but it is ultimately up to him to use them. This is a management problem, and it is best solved by good management.…”