On the recordNovember 5, 2015
On November 11, Veterans Day, we will honor and remember the efforts of those who serve our country. We owe it to our veterans to keep the promises made to them when they first joined the military. Despite bipartisan action in Congress to increase efficiency and care at the VA, we are still suffering from a lack of transparency that makes it very difficult to determine what actions still need to be taken to ensure quality, timely care for our veterans. Now we have learned that there are over 140 investigations by the inspector general that were hidden. These investigations were shelved; they were not made available to the public or to Congress. That is why I am supporting bipartisan legislation, the Veterans Care and Reporting Enforcement Act, which will require reports from the investigations by the inspector general to be made public, to be made available to Congress. I want to thank my Minnesota colleagues, Congressmen Tom Emmer and Tim Walz, for bringing this legislation forward. It will go a long way toward making the VA more accountable so that our veterans get the care that they deserve. ____________________
