Rokita Supports Holding VA Accountable

Statement

Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-04) issued the following statement after supporting H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act:

"Our veterans have earned our respect and we have to keep our word to them by making sure the VA system delivers the best care in the world. This starts by holding the right people accountable. The President continues to protect an outdated, government-knows-best, broken bureaucracy at the VA that is failing to meet the needs of our veterans.

"Reports of backlogs and poor service at VA medical facilities are unacceptable. Those who are directly or indirectly responsible should be held accountable. I thank Chairman Miller for his leadership on this issue and will continue fighting for our veterans by pursuing this and other remedies to correct these problems," said Rep. Rokita.

H.R. 1994 gives the Secretary the authority to remove a VA employee based on performance or misconduct. It also will require that all probationary periods for new VA employees last for at least eighteen months instead of the current one-year period. Finally, H.R. 1994 will require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of VA time, space, and resources devoted to labor union activities.

Source