In the wake of the trending ‘VA Scandal’, Congress has passed the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, a bipartisan reform bill designed to strengthen the VA agency after numerous reports have surfaced of its lack of performance in responding to veteran benefit requests.
The bill is designed to improve access to and quality of care for veterans, to expand the VA’s internal capacity to provide timely care, to provide real accountability for incompetent or corrupt senior managers and to improve education benefits for veterans and dependents.
Advertisements
The bill would result in net spending of roughly $10 billion from 2014-2024, making it less expensive than previous VA reform packages passed by the House and Senate, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), who represents all of Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County released the following statement Wednesday following the bills passage.
“After over a month of deliberation and debate, I am glad to have the opportunity to support this bipartisan legislation which strengthens our commitment to veterans’ benefits and care. The ‘Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act’ represents an agreement on efforts to make the VA more transparent and responsive to the needs of the veterans. In addition to reducing wait times for medical care, the bill includes funds to increase the number of VA medical professionals and facilities, as well as provisions to remove ineffective senior managers and improve education benefits. While there is work to be done to reform the VA in the wake of this scandal, and details about the depth of corruption and impropriety at the agency continue to be exposed, this bill represents a step toward making the VA work for veterans.”
Advertisements
Fitzpatrick as well as Patrick Meehan (PA-7) toured the Philadelphia VA Regional Office, by invitation of VA Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey this past week in an effort to better understand the corruption that occurred at the local office.
“While I thank Under Secretary Hickey for the update and tour, the fact remains that the Philadelphia VA – and the agency as a whole – has much work to do in both regaining the trust of veterans and ensuring quality care and timely benefits,” Fitzpatrick said after the tour. “Today’s meeting is a step toward encouraging a more open and accountable VA benefit office here in Philadelphia, and a larger message to offices across the nation that the disturbing findings of the OIG report cannot be the new normal.”
Advertisements
Related:
