Rep. Courtney: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Showed ‘Error in Judgment' and ‘Disgraceful Lack of Leadership' for Bonuses Totaling $3.8 Million

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Rep. Courtney: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Showed ‘Error in Judgment' and ‘Disgraceful Lack of Leadership' for Bonuses Totaling $3.8 Million

Congressman Joe Courtney will send a letter Monday to Secretary R. James Nicholson of the Department of Veterans Affairs calling the awarding of exorbitant bonuses to top VA officials a serious ‘error in judgment' as backlogs continue to cause long delays throughout the nation and in eastern Connecticut for veterans' claims.

"It is appalling that the failing performance of top VA officials would be rewarded so handsomely while the quality of care for our nation's veterans suffers. The veterans of eastern Connecticut and those throughout the nation deserve an explanation for this apparent error in judgment and disgraceful lack of leadership within the Department of Veterans Affairs," wrote Congressman Courtney in the letter to be sent Monday.

This week an Associated Press reported that top Veterans Affairs officials were to receive a total of $3.8 million in bonuses, some individuals receiving as much as $33,000, or 20 percent of their annual salary. While the officials were to receive the performance based rewards, the quality of service and the budget woes of the VA have been under great scrutiny by the public and the new Congress.

The AP reports that nationally there exists a backlog of veterans' claims of 177 days on average, while in a March 2007 Hartford Courant article, State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz noted that some veterans may wait up to two years for claims to be addresses.

Representative John Hall (D-NY) announced that he will introduce legislation this week to place a moratorium on those bonuses until the backlog of claims, which ranges from 400,000 - 600,000 is reduced to 100,000. Congressman Courtney will support that legislation.

A copy of the letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson is attached below:

May 7, 2007

The Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary

Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

810 New Hampshire Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Nicholson:

I am writing to express my disappointment that senior officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs have received exorbitant bonuses at a time when a backlog of four hundred thousand to six hundred thousand veterans' benefits cases exists with delays for services as long as 177 days, on average nationally.

In Connecticut that delay may be longer with some claims delayed for up to two years, according to the State Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. Yet, while your department has continued to claim a budget shortfall and the backlog of cases continue to grow, you simultaneously approved over $3.8 million in bonuses to your top aides with some receiving $33,000, nearly 20 percent of their annual income.

It is appalling that the failing performance of top VA officials would be rewarded so handsomely while the quality of care for our nation's veterans suffers. The veterans of eastern Connecticut and those throughout the nation deserve an explanation for this apparent error in judgment and disgraceful lack of leadership within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As United States soldiers return home from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, they must be afforded the greatest care possible and confident that their needs will be addressed in a responsible and timely manner. The recent actions of the Department of Veterans Affairs cause me great concern that the needs of returning servicemen and women will not be made a priority.

I respectfully request a response to this letter so that I may share your response with the veteran community in eastern Connecticut. Should you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly, or my Military Legislative Assistant Neil McKiernan at (202) 225-2076. I appreciation your consideration of the concerns I have expressed.

Sincerely,

Joe Courtney
Member of Congress

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