Political Quotes

“Mr. President, last week the Senate passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, but this legislation does nothing to address one of the most critical problems at the VA. To improve the healthcare our returning heroes receive, we need a VA that is fully staffed with the best healthcare professionals we can find, and in many VA facilities throughout the Nation, including in Ohio, that is far from the case. Across the U.S., there are more than 49,000 VA vacancies that this administration has yet to fill. In Ohio, as of April of this year, there were more than 1,700 VA vacancies, and more than 1,500 of those positions were considered critical to public health and safety. That is a massive problem that needs immediate attention by the administration. These vacancies are not just numbers; they have serious consequences for our veterans who need care. When the VA is understaffed, it means longer wait times. It means veterans unable to see the specialists they need. It means overstretched doctors. Overworked doctors means mistakes are more likely and veterans are not getting the quality care they deserve. Imagine a doctor tells an Ohio veteran she needs an MRI. Well, if there is no MRI tech at that facility because they have not hired one, she has to wait longer for the test and diagnosis. She might have to find someone to drive her to another town.…”