Chairman Johnson Marks One Year Since Tomah VA Tragedies Were Made Public

Statement

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement marking one year since an inspector general's secret report about problems at the Tomah (Wis.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center was brought to light.

"Today marks one year since the press reported the existence of an unreleased report by the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) involving the mistreatment of veterans and whistleblower retaliation at the Tomah VA Medical Center. The OIG's failure to make the report public in effect swept the problems under the rug.

"Immediately following these disturbing reports, I directed my staff to begin a thorough investigation into the allegations of wrongdoing. My goals are to bring accountability and transparency to the VA and the VA Office of Inspector General, to enhance whistleblower protections, and to ensure that the finest among us receive the high quality care they deserve.

"Despite obstruction, we have taken major steps to learn what went so terribly wrong at Tomah. But my work is not yet finished. My committee continues to receive documents and to conduct interviews of witnesses with direct knowledge of what happened. Because questions still remain, I will continue to push for accountability at the VA to ensure that veterans in Wisconsin and across the country can have full confidence that the care they receive at the VA is the best it can be."

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