Rep. Gosar Passes Amendments to Hold Veterans Administration Accountable

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) issued the following statement after successfully passing four amendments on the House floor and attaching them to the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which then passed the full House by a vote of 416-1. These amendments seek to increase accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and improve veterans' health care:

"Ensuring timely care for our veterans is one of my top priorities. I was appalled to hear recent reports about neglect, and even malfeasance, at the VA in terms of treating sick veterans. The House Veterans Affairs Committee is conducting an investigation into the matter and so far has said that as many as 40 veterans may have died waiting for treatment at the Phoenix VA. These amendments seek to prevent such atrocities from occurring again, to increase transparency and, most importantly, to ensure our nation's heroes receive critical health care.

"Specifically, these amendments prohibit the VA from keeping unofficial records in order to conceal lengthy wait times; cut bureaucratic waste at the VA and redirect those resources toward reducing wait times; prohibit bonuses for senior VA officials; and ensure adequate funding for the investigation of the Phoenix VA.

"Our veterans fought to protect us and our freedoms. The least we can do for them now is make sure they receive the health care they earned."

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