Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6052, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2021.

The bipartisan VA OIG training act, which I introduced with Congressman David McKinley of West Virginia last fall, is a critical step to promote accountability at VA and ensure our veterans are receiving the world-class care and benefits that they have earned.

This bill requires every current and future VA employee to participate in the VA's OIG training, which will ensure that staff are prepared to report fraud, waste, and patient abuse, and are aware of protections for employees who report wrongdoings.

An assessment of initiatives carried out by VA's OIG found that every dollar spent on oversight yielded a $21 return on investment. Ensuring the OIG can carry out its crucial oversight work will save taxpayer dollars, while also improving care and ensuring that veterans receive every dollar and benefit that they have earned.

My commonsense, bipartisan bill codifies OIG's training requirement, which strengthens the Department's Office of the Inspector General, protects VA employees who report wrongdoing, and most importantly, honors the service and sacrifices of our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act today. I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for their support to advance this legislation.

I also thank Representative McKinley for co-leading the bill with me in the House, and Senators Hassan and Boozman for leading this bipartisan bill in the Senate.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source