Beto O'Rourke

El Paso is ranked 157 out of 158 for mental healthcare access.

I want your commitment that you are going to work with us because the community has come forward in the vacuum of VA leadership.

They are unable to get the appointment in El Paso to see the prescriber, so they cannot get the prescription renewed.

But, again, the feedback stands because I am hearing it directly from veterans that that is apparently not happening in El Paso.

I hope that when you come back, you come back with a plan for El Paso or any under-served community.

How many of those who are no longer receiving prescriptions from the VA are now using heroin or other street drugs?

I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendments. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas is recognized for 10 minutes. There was no objection.

Everything that the proponents of this amendment have highlighted, the Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security already have access to and already received from the Department of Defense. As I said earlier, this amendment is…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will be postponed. Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. Hunter The Acting CHAIR. It is now…

I think more of the same we have seen from the last year, despite... tremendous leadership on the part of the VA... is just not working.

I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

And I think this committee certainly wants to be a constructive partner with the VA.

this lack of control and accountability gives me some pause in authorizing that.

So it really raises profound concerns about control and accountability at the VA.

So perhaps relative to other Federal departments, this is a similar problem, and you know, despite, I think, some very valid concerns raised by Mr. Frye, we don't have any proof yet of specific instances where someone has died or been…

can you comment on any change you've seen in leadership related to these control issues, accountability, and ensuring that we're safeguarding taxpayer dollars under this new administration?

I think the VA needs accountability.

But unless we're sure that these concerns have been addressed--and I'm not, following all of these instances and the hearing today--it's hard to have that faith.

Does OIG have any outstanding concerns, and do you agree with Mr. Murray's conclusion on that?

Mr. O'Rourke. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Halliday, do we have any idea of how these failures compare to those that we might find in other Federal departments or agencies?

But what makes it absolutely unacceptable is that this just follows in a litany of unaccountability at the VA.

So we really need some significant, bold, dramatic change. It has to be in accountability control.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for holding this hearing. I look forward to the testimony from our panel and to their answers from our questions.

Did I hear you correctly?

I appreciate you being here, Mr. Gibson.