Washington, D.C.– The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to provide more flexibility to the U.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA) Secretary to dismiss executive officials for poor performance. Congressman Paulsen (MN-03), a cosponsor of H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act, voted in favor of the bill. The legislation grants the VA Secretary the authority to fire employees of the Senior Executive Service—one of the highest ranking classifications in federal civil service—for mismanagement.

“The VA backlog continues to be an unacceptable roadblock to getting our veterans the care they need,” said Paulsen. “But veterans dying due to treatment delays and VA officials falsifying appointment records raise these problems to the level of criminal negligence. The leadership needs a culture change and to be held a accountable.”

Over 40 American veterans have reportedly died in Phoenix while on an unofficial waiting list at the local VA. The agency acknowledges that dozens of veterans have died from excessive wait times to receive care. Currently, 26 VA facilities are under Inspector General investigation with reports of secret ‘waiting lists’ being kept to mask a VA claims backlog.

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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