Daines Renews Call For Shinseki Resignation and Continues Push For VA Reform

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Following today's resignation of Dr. Robert Petzel, Under Secretary for Health in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Congressman Steve Daines renewed his call for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.

Petzel testified alongside Shinseki yesterday before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to answer questions about treatment delays recently blamed for the death of 40 veterans in the Phoenix, Ariz. VA system.

"Secretary Shinseki failed to provide adequate answers for the VA's persistent delays and chronic mismanagement of care for our veterans at yesterday's hearing. Three weeks is too long to wait for a report while veterans are dying on secret waiting lists. We need accountability now," Daines said."Replacing Secretary Shinseki won't fix all of the VA's problems, but it will be the first step towards changing the culture of the VA to one that treats veterans with the honor, dignity, and respect that they have earned in their service to our nation."

Daines first called for Secretary Shinseki to resign on May 7, following similar calls from other national veterans' organizations. Daines has long called for reforms to address longstanding delays in addressing veterans' benefits claims and to ensure that the VA more efficiently and effectively meets Montana veterans' needs.

Daines recently helped pass the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which provides $7.5 billion for programs designed to address veterans' mental health needs and increases funding for suicide prevention outreach by $20 million.

A number of veterans and veteran organizations have echoed Daines' concerns:

"Secretary Shinseki runs the VA and is ultimately responsible for its actions. I think at this point, the secretary should be held accountable for what's happened on his watch. Those who have been in the military know the commander has great authority and with authority comes responsibility, therefore the commander is held responsible when things go wrong. I don't see this any differently."- Montana veteran and American Legion member George Blackard

"As national commander of the nation's largest veterans service organization, it is with great sadness that I call for the resignations of Secretary Shinseki… His patriotism and sacrifice for this nation are above reproach. However, his record as the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs tells a different story. It's a story of poor oversight and failed leadership… There needs to be a change, and that change needs to occur at the top." - American Legion National Commander Daniel Dellinger

"The VA is failing in its core mission to veterans: providing timely and quality healthcare. Across the country, veterans are waiting months for basic appointment, let alone specialized care… Shinseki should be fired immediately." - Concerned Veterans for America CEO Pete Hegseth

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