Responding to the VA Scandal

Following his service on the Joint House-Senate VA Reform Conference Committee, Congressman Doug Lamborn was honored to support legislation instituting important reforms to the Veterans Administration. The bill passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 420 to 5.

Please click HERE to watch the Congressman's Floor Speech of support  

Highlights of the Legislation

  • Increases the flexibility for VA leadership to fire incompetent VA employees
  • Provides more ability for veterans to obtain outside, private sector care 
  • Will lead to the hiring of more doctors and the construction of more facilities, in order to lower wait times for our veterans

"Nothing is more important than providing our veterans with the care and respect that they have earned. It was a privilege to serve as a chief negotiator on the VA Reform Conference Committee. I am pleased that we were able to come to a bipartisan solution. These reforms expand the private sector care options available to our veterans, ensuring that wait times are lower, and convenience is increased. However, this alone will not fix the cultural problems that plague the department so as to guarantee quality care for our veterans in the long run.  That's why I worked hard to ensure that the bill included measures that will hold bureaucrats accountable for failing to put our veterans first. These are important steps in the process of rebuilding the trust that has been broken between our brave veterans and the VA that should serve them. The corrupt culture at the VA won't be purged overnight and there is still a lot of work to do.  I will continue to work with local veterans on individual cases and on the Veterans Affairs Committee to address systemic problems that remain."

 - Congressman Doug Lamborn 

 

Congressman Doug Lamborn, the second ranking Republican on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has taken numerous steps to ensure that the integrity of our local VA system has not been compromised and that those who are responsible for the terrible atrocities committed around the country are held responsible.

Local Outreach

  • Congressman Lamborn has spoken with the leadership at the Colorado Springs VA Clinic and the Denver VA Hospital. He was assured that no secret waiting lists are being used in Colorado. Additionally, he as informed that the facilities have passed impromptu Inspector General checks within the last month. 

Receiving an update from local Colorado VA leadership

 

  • However, wait times of any length are frustrating. That's why Congressman Lamborn is getting ahead of the curve. He inserted language in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act directing that a study begin on adding a Joint DOD-VA Clinic (with emergency room care) to northern El Paso County.

 

  • Veterans deserve the best possible care. They do not deserve to be treated like they are part of an assembly line.

 

  • If you are experiencing ANY problems with the local VA system, please call my Colorado Springs office at (719) 520-0055. My staff will do everything they can to assist you. 

 

Steps in Congress

  • Congressman Lamborn has supported the efforts of the Veterans Affairs Committee in subpoenaing VA officials to get to the bottom of the problems occurring across the country.

Please click HERE to watch Congressman Lamborn discussing these subpoenas in Committee

 

  • Drafted a letter to Secretary Shinseki, signed by the entire Republican Colorado delegation, requesting a detailed report on the state of affairs of the VA system in Colorado. 

  • Secretary Shinseki must fire the Hospital Directors and others responsible for any secret waiting lists. If he himself knew about any such waiting-list, he must himself resign and face the consequences. In addition, he must recall the bonuses recently paid out to leadership at the hospitals currently under suspicion.

 

Please click HERE to listen to the Congressman's interview with Richard Randall discussing VA issues

Please click HERE to watch the Congressman's Floor Speech in support of the VA Accountability Act