Washington, D.C. – Congressman Matheson released the following statement today in response to the resignation of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki:

“Secretary Shinseki’s resignation today was appropriate, given the egregious wrongdoings within the department that have recently come to light.  Secretary Shinseki is a decorated veteran who served honorably, including making many improvements during his tenure at the Department of Veterans Affairs.  However, leadership begins at the top, and the Secretary’s resignation was a necessary first step in taking responsibility for actions that took place on his watch.  Perhaps most importantly, there is a lot of work to be done to correct the systemic problems with wait times and access to health care for our veterans.  That is where we should focus – honoring the commitment we have made as a country to the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces.”