Mike Gallagher: “I am proud to rise as a cosponsor of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act the House will be voting on…”

“I am proud to rise as a cosponsor of the Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act the House will be voting on later today. Dr. Kirkpatrick was a promising young clinical psychologist assigned to the Tomah VA in Wisconsin. Committed to finding innovative treatments for PTSD, he expressed alarm that patients of the VA were being overmedicated, preventing him from providing the treatment they so desperately needed. Rather than listen to his concerns, the VA retaliated against him and, ultimately, Chris was fired; and that very day, he took his own life. The VA investigation later found that Chris' concerns about overmedication were entirely founded. Chris' story is a tragedy, but can also serve as a turning point. Just as our veterans have earned world-class care, their allies such as Chris deserve full protection should they bravely decide to document VA wrongdoing or abuse. By increasing these protections today, we are honoring Chris' memory, serving as a fitting memorial to a life that was tragically cut short. ____________________”