Congressman Richard Nugent

Representing the 11th District of Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - REP NUGENT RESPONDS TO GAINESVILLE VA SITUATION, CALLS ON SEC SHINSEKI TO RESIGN AND WHISTLEBLOWERS TO COME FORWARD

May 16, 2014
Press Release

(Spring Hill, FL) – Following media reports that secret lists plaguing the VA may also be occurring at the VA facility in Gainesville, FL, Rep. Rich Nugent (FL-11) issued the following statement:

 

“Like a lot of people, I think I’m struggling to find the right words to describe just how bad this situation really is with the VA.  ‘Appalling’ and ‘disgraceful’ don’t really seem to capture it.  We already know from Arizona and elsewhere that the very individuals we entrust to take care of the nation’s veterans have been purposefully hiding those veterans’ requests for help in a drawer so that nobody will know how bad the VA’s responsiveness and efficiency are.

“This is a serious breach of trust, first and foremost for the veterans who have been denied care, but I think for all veterans and for the entire country.  So in Gainesville, the possibility that a mental health professional at the VA would potentially make a veteran who had requested assistance wait is a serious concern.

“It’s unclear at this point exactly what’s happened in Gainesville, but what is clear is that the VA has lost its credibility.  I don’t feel like I can trust them when they say that everything is fine and the accountability is there.  The only thing at this point that’s going to restore that trust, in my opinion, is a change in leadership and sustained demonstration of results.  Frankly, at this point, I believe the strongest leadership that Secretary Shinseki could show in this regard is to resign.  It’s simply gone too far.

“I want employees at the VA nationwide to understand that this is not a witch hunt to come after anybody.  But if you know of wrongdoing, this is your time to come forward.  Understanding fully how aggressive the Obama administration has been in going after whistleblowers, you have my personal commitment that as a member of Congress I will not stand for any retaliation against you.  What matters here is restoring the service to veterans and also the breach of trust.  If whistleblowers stay quiet, the situation won’t get fixed and our veterans will suffer because of it.  Because of that anybody who knows of wrongdoing and doesn’t speak up is complicit in the mistreatment of veterans.  And that is unacceptable to me and to the American people. 

“In general, I also want every veteran out there to know that if you are not getting the responsiveness from the VA that you deserve, please call your member of Congress.  Part of the job is holding the system accountable on behalf of all veterans, but a crucial part is also going to bat in individual cases.  If one of the vets had come to me saying their requests for a medical appointment hadn’t been answered for six months, I would have dropped everything to get it fixed.  These men and women have done too much for this country to be ignored like this.  Period.“

 

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