Daines: Senate Democrats Blocking VA Accountability Bill Is "Shameful"

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Steve Daines issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked consideration of the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act (H.R. 4031), which passed the House yesterday with strong bipartisan support:

"It is shameful that Senate Democrats chose to block bipartisan legislation to hold VA managers accountable for failing our nation's veterans. As we head home to pay tribute to our nation's fallen, we also must recommit ourselves to ensuring our veterans receive the support and health care they deserve. Yesterday, the House stood with America's veterans and passed the VA Management Accountability Act with overwhelming bipartisan support as a critical first step to addressing the unacceptable failures of the VA. It's deeply disappointing that Senate Democrat leaders refuse to join the House in demanding answers from the VA and holding those responsible for the mistreatment of our veterans accountable."

Daines is a cosponsor of the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act which would address the widespread and systemic lack of accountability for senior executives in the VA by giving the VA Secretary more latitude to discipline and fire executives who presided over negligence or mismanagement. The House passed this legislation yesterday with strong bipartisan support: 390-33.

Daines was also among the first House members to call for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign, following similar calls from national veterans' organizations. He 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.

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