WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, S. 3076, the Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act passed the House of Representatives. This bill, introduced by Senator Tom Cotton (AR-R) in the Senate and Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2) in the House, would allow veterans buried in a casket provided by the VA to have the option of interment at a state or tribal cemetery for which the VA has provided a grant. Today, Wenstrup delivered the following remarks on the House floor: “This bill will have a direct and personal... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, has introduced the Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act (H.R. 6114), the House of Representatives’ companion bill to Senator Tom Cotton’s bill (S. 3076) of the same name. Under current law, if a veteran dies without the resources to pay for a casket, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will provide one, as long as the veteran is buried in a National Cemetery. In Ohio’s second district, ... Read more

Today Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, voted in favor of H.R. 5620, the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016. Introduced by VA Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, H.R. 5620 would ensure that the VA has the tools it needs to hold employees accountable for misconduct or poor performance. It authorizes the VA Secretary to fire or demote VA employees, and it allows the Secretary to recoup bonuses or relocation expenses given to ... Read more

A reduction in veteran homelessness is among the key findings in the first progress report on veterans' issues, concerns and recommendations. The report, released by the Tristate Veterans Community Alliance (TVCA), built upon the 2014 report by the Easter Seals Tristate, covers veterans' housing, education and employment opportunities to better track the last two years of progress made in the community, a press release said. In the last two years in Hamilton County, veterans experiencing homeles... Read more

Today Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, responded to the recent assessment of veterans’ healthcare released by the Commission on Care. The Commission on Care (Commission) was created by Congress under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. Its fifteen members include professionals with a wide variety of healthcare, military, and veteran-service experience. They were tasked with providing recommendations on how to organize ... Read more

They are problems one hopes never to find in an operating room. Problems including bone-contaminated drill bits, broken or rusty surgical instruments, holes in sterile wrappers and a needle holder that arrived with a used needle still in it. Yet these and many other events were documented hundreds of times at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, according to records obtained by the Scripps News Washington Bureau and WCPO. They're known as "quality events" and "non-conforming products... Read more

Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, has introduced legislation (H.R. 5526) to enhance employee recruitment and retainment strategies at Veterans’ Affairs (VA) medical centers. Due to increasing demand, an aging workforce, and private sector competition, among other factors, the VA is facing a significant staff shortage. However, under current hiring processes, attracting highly-qualified can... Read more

Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, called on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald to provide further information about recent leadership reassignments at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center (VAMC). On April 26, the VA announced that Mr. John Gennaro, current Director of the Cincinnati VAMC, will be reassigned to the vacant director’s position at the Erie VAMC in Pennsylvania. Mr. Glenn Costie, the current Director of the VAM... Read more

Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), who represents Cincinnati and serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to remove VISN 10 Director Jack Hetrick: “Veterans are thankful that the Department of Veterans Affairs acted to dismiss a leader who has lost the trust of those he serves. This quick action was only possible because Congress included accountability provisions in the Veterans Choice Act passed in 2014,... Read more

The Department of Veterans Affairs ousted the head of its Ohio-based regional network Thursday and disciplined an official at the Cincinnati VA medical center in connection with a probe of the hospital's management and veterans' care. The agency said its findings are being referred for a possible federal criminal investigation. The VA announced in Washington that Jack Hetrick, director of the Ohio-based network that serves some 500,000 veterans including in Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan, is ret... Read more