Today the House of Representatives passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act (HR 4031). U.S. Rep Chris Smith (R-Robbinsville, N.J.), who supported bill that passed by a 390-33 margin, issued the following statement:
“As the former chairman of the House Veterans Affairs’ Committee, I firmly believe that there is no one in America today—either individually or collectively—who commands deeper respect, admiration and gratitude than our nation’s veterans. Having worked throughout my tenure in Congress to ensure we properly honor these brave men and women with both our words and deeds, I am shocked and saddened by the recent revelations regarding the VA’s reckless disregard for the care and treatment of our nation’s veterans.
“The allegations go beyond mismanagement. We know that VA officials took deliberate actions that led to the deaths of veterans when they could have been prevented, and they must be held accountable for their negligence and misconduct.
“Rather than work to eliminate the unacceptable backlog of VA claims and the waiting lists that place necessary medical care for veterans on hold, VA managers took steps to cover them up.
“I believe that Congress must ensure the VA has the resources and tools to assist the nearly 48.5 million people (22 million veterans and 26.5 million family members) it is intended to serve, and at times this has not always been the case. While there are still needs that we must work overtime to meet, the problems in the VA are systemic and additional resources can only do so much.
“We need accountability.
“The actions of some at the VA, not all but some, have led to suffering and preventable deaths and this will not be tolerated—it will no longer be answered with administrative leave.
“It is not simply enough to withhold performance bonuses, although I support that. The decision makers must be fired when the circumstances—not only the actions taken but the subsequent cover ups—warrant dismissal.
“There are many VA employees who work tirelessly around the clock to assist veterans with disability claims, treat their service-connected injuries and help their families obtain the services and benefits they have earned. Their work should not be marred by the negligence of a few.
“Accordingly, today I voted to give the VA the flexibility to fire the individuals who falsified records and kept secret waitlists in order to keep their jobs and bonuses. The VA needs this authority to send a signal to all employees that they will be held to the highest standard that comes with caring for our nation’s veterans and fired when they do not meet it.”
