Members of the Arizona Congressional delegation worked to increase accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), improve veterans’ health care, and stop base closings.
Four amendments sponsored by Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar, were passed as the House approved the 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act.
Rep. Gosar joined several of his colleagues, including Reps. Matt Salmon (AZ-05) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), and Ron Barber in co-sponsoring an amendment, which redirects funds from VA bureaucrats and administrative expenses to the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s Office in order to ensure adequate resources for the investigation of the Phoenix VA. This amendment was also a response to the news reports that the Phoenix VA used unofficial records for veterans’ claims and appointment requests.
Congressman Gosar said, “I was appalled to hear recent reports about neglect, and even malfeasance, at the VA in terms of treating sick veterans. The House Veterans Affairs Committee is conducting an investigation into the matter and so far has said that as many as 40 veterans may have died waiting for treatment at the Phoenix VA. My amendments seek to prevent such atrocities from occurring again, to increase transparency and, most importantly, to ensure our nation’s heroes receive critical health care.”
“Specifically, these amendments prohibit the VA from keeping unofficial records in order to conceal lengthy wait times; cut bureaucratic waste at the VA and redirect those resources toward reducing wait times; prohibit bonuses for senior VA officials; and ensure adequate funding for the investigation of the Phoenix VA,” said Gosar. “Our veterans fought to protect us and our freedoms. The least we can do for them now is make sure they receive the health care they earned.”
“We must quickly get to the bottom of this and bring about swift action to prevent a reoccurrence so that our veterans get prompt access to the best possible care they deserve,” Congressman Ron Barber told fellow House members.
One of Gosar’s amendments seeks to prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs from creating or maintaining any unofficial record-keeping system. This amendment is in response to numerous news reports that assert the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System has been using secondary, unofficial records of veterans’ claims and appointment requests in order to conceal lengthy waiting times. This amendment ensures such record-keeping practices are not allowed to take place in the future.
Gosar also sponsored an amendment cuts wasteful spending for VA bureaucrats and administrative expenses and redirects those resources toward timely service for our veterans and reducing the VA backlog.
Gosar joined several of his colleagues in co-sponsoring an amendment, which prohibits bonuses for senior officials at the VA.
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