Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1266, Enhancing Veteran Care Act. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs can contract with qualified and accredited third-party nonprofits to investigate a VA medical center for deficiencies in its facility. Only the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, however, is directly capable of authorizing these third-party investigations. Unfortunately, this process is needlessly cumbersome and delays the improvement of medical centers. This bill is an important reform because it empowers Veteran Integrated Service Network directors and VA medical center directors to initiate these third-party reviews. The Manchester VA Medical Center in my home State of New Hampshire currently faces a number of questions regarding the services it provides and the facilities it manages. While Secretary Shulkin has initiated reviews of the facility, it took a number of whistleblowers to put their reputation and jobs on the line to force action. Legislation like the Enhancing Veteran Care Act could have streamlined this process and made both the facility and the VISN more accountable to the needs of veterans in New Hampshire. VA must be better at assessing its own shortcomings. Ultimately, veterans in the Granite State and across the country deserve the highest standard of care. I thank Senators Inhofe and Lankford for introducing this important legislation.…”