Boehner Column in the Early Bird Newspaper: Steps at the VA are Just the Beginning

BOEHNER QUOTE: “… we’re not going to let up until the issues at the VA are finally resolved – it’s what I’ve said from day one and it’s still true today.”

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Hearing directly from veterans in our own region on the veterans’ benefit claims backlog is what led to my pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for answers and accountability years ago.  Our veterans deserve nothing less.

What we eventually uncovered were full-blown systemic problems at the VA.

I know I’m not alone in how outraged I was by the horror stories, and we’re not going to let up until the issues at the VA are finally resolved – it’s what I’ve said from day one and it’s still true today.  While Congress recently acted to provide the VA with additional resources and the authority to hold senior officials accountable in the wake of the VA scandal, passage of that law is just the beginning.

In fact, I recently outlined to Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald my thoughts on the independent audit of veterans’ health care that our recently-enacted, bipartisan legislation requires.  As I wrote in my letter to Secretary McDonald, the intent of the independent assessment is to gain valuable feedback that can be used to help transform the VA into an effective, 21st-century model of service, which is why I believe the review must rely not on traditional government consultants, but on private sector entities with experience in the successful delivery of modern, quality health care.

As I said when Secretary McDonald visited the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, I’m encouraged by the secretary’s track record – he’s a strong leader with decades of experience in the private sector –but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done at the VA.  What was enacted this summer was just a first step toward the fundamental changes that are needed to make certain the disgraceful stories we’ve heard in Ohio and the tragedies across the country never happen again.

While it’s up to the president and his administration to put forth a vision for fundamental change at the VA, that doesn’t mean I’m going to let up the pressure.  I’ve pressed for answers at the VA all along, and that’s what I will continue to do.

As I work closely with our local veterans community on this, remember that many of the widespread problems at the VA were exposed because of  early conversations with veterans in our local area.  So let me take this opportunity to remind all veterans in Ohio’s 8th Congressional District that my office stands ready to assist you.  If you’re facing an issue at the VA, know that I have staff in my office who will work directly with you.  Please call 513-779-5400 for more information or visit our “Services for Veterans” webpage at boehner.house.gov.