Dan Benishek

I can't believe it takes five years to get this thing going. What is the story with that?

I represent the northern half of the State of Michigan, and have seen firsthand how the ESA impacts my district.

We respectfully urge the Subcommittee to not advance H.R. 3508 at this time and await the implementation of the OIG's recommendations.

Good morning and thank you all for joining us today to discuss pending legislation regarding the health care benefits and services provided to our nation's veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

I would appreciate your assistance in ensuring an expedient response to these inquiries.

By and large, these ten bills aim to address two of this Subcommittee's highest priorities: (1) Ensuring that our veterans have access to the care that they need; and, (2) ensuring that VA is held accountable when that care fails to meet…

I just seem to think that, VA supporting a local dialysis center person makes a little more sense than having another one in VA.

I think the Veterans of Foreign Wars in their written statement expressed concerns regarding the potential use of, or kenneling service dogs at a VA medical center could lead to some problems.

A bill to authorize major VA medical facility leases for Fiscal Year 2014.

Thank you very much for bringing it forward.

I think the Veterans Administration in this case is just completely missing the mark.

VHA recognizes the significance of the tragic events that occurred in Atlanta and has taken action there to improve mental health services for Veterans.

During the hearing on February 26, 2014, you stated that only one death resulted from the legionella outbreak at VAPHS.

I do not mean to say that everything is bad. But the purpose of today was for me to get a follow up on what, is happening.

I would like to see a report on what you----

I would like to have that by the end of the week, if we could.

That said that you would put VA up against the private sector anytime, that is a complete fabrication of what actually occurs at the VA.

That answer you just gave Dr. Wenstrup, that is just completely ridiculous.

The IG over the last 30 years has eight times said that there should be a centralized plan for physician staffing.

What is the appropriate action for that type of behavior?

So then what specific actions were taken immediately upon your being aware of these?

Unfortunately, I have seen little concrete evidence in the past year that the department is doing either.

I cannot state enough how critical it is for VA to take responsibility for gaps in care and, more importantly, to take immediate and definitive steps to address them.

The goal of this legislation is to create a culture of accountability within VA, a culture where problems are identified and immediately corrected.

I was so alarmed by VA's decades long lack of action that I quickly introduced H.R. 2072, the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act.