Former chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statement today following the resignation of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

    “I remain gravely concerned that the VA’s structural and systemic problems will not be resolved solely with Secretary Shinseki’s resignation,” said Smith, former chairman of the House Veterans Affairs’ Committee from 2001-2005 and author of more than a dozen veterans’ laws. “However, his exit provides an opportunity—a chance to have a game-changing VA Secretary who will conduct a top-to-bottom review, cut through red tape, eliminate bureaucracy, and hold all VA employees accountable for the culture that has crept in and allowed for secret waitlists and cover ups.

     “Veterans died and if any information gleaned from the investigation suggests a criminal referral is appropriate, it should be done immediately.

     “While there are still needs that are not fully funded or addressed and we must work overtime to meet them, additional resources can only do so much. American veterans deserve real accountability and a cultural change at the VA.  We can and must send a clear signal to the VA’s top leaders and those entrusted with the sacred task of caring for our veterans throughout the entire department that anything less than treatment comparable to their sacrifice will not be tolerated.”

    On May 21, Smith voted to pass a VA reform bill,  the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act (HR 4031). 

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