Baldwin Provisions to Increase Transparency, Improve Patient Safety at Tomah VAMC Clears Major Senate Hurdle

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees, today applauded the inclusion of several of her provisions aimed at addressing issues at the Tomah VAMC in the bipartisan FY16 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA), and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which passed the committee by a vote of 21-9. The spending bill now heads to the Senate floor.

"I was proud to include several priorities in this legislation that respond to the problems and tragedies that have occurred at the Tomah VAMC and help prevent them from ever happening again," said Senator Baldwin. "I worked to include provisions that can improve transparency of VA Office of Inspector General reports, strengthen protections for whistleblowers, and provide stronger oversight of the VA's prescribing practices. These are significant reforms that take a serious step in the right direction to ensure we address the underlying challenges at the Tomah VAMC and across the nation. However, I have serious concerns that this appropriations bill does nothing to roll back the devastating cuts we've seen due to sequestration. Unless Congress can come together on a bipartisan deal to raise these thoughtless budget caps, I have severe reservations about supporting this legislation moving forward."

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