Daines Demands New Leadership and Accountability at VA

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Steve Daines today demanded new leadership and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and renewed his call for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.

Daines' call follows the release of a new VA Inspector General interim report showing that Arizona veterans were forced to wait an average of 115 days before receiving their first appointment, far greater than the 24 day wait period that the VA in Phoenix had claimed. The IG report also suggested that such delays and "inappropriate scheduling practices" are widespread throughout the VA healthcare system.

"The time for words and more promises from the administration and VA leadership has long passed. Our nation's veterans deserve action and results that immediately work to correct the systemic negligence that is further exposed by this report," Daines said. "Secretary Shinseki served honorably during his military career, but this report shows that as VA Secretary, he has failed to take the necessary action to fix the severe problems within the VA healthcare system. If he will not do so voluntarily, President Obama should demand Secretary Shinseki's immediate resignation and name a replacement who will instill accountability at all levels of the VA system and implement reforms to ensure veterans quickly receive the health care they need."

It was reported last week that the director of the Phoenix VA healthcare facility, where the VA IG study took place, was paid a bonus of $8,495 in April despite being under investigation by the inspector general at that time.

Daines was among the first House members to call for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign, following similar calls from national veterans' organizations, and has long called for reforms to address longstanding delays veterans' benefits claims and to ensure that the VA more efficiently and effectively meets the needs of Montana veterans.

He 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 last week with strong bipartisan support.

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