A Compromise To Address The Problems At The VA

Rep. Jim Renacci.

Like many living in Ohio’s 16th District, I was deeply troubled to learn of the widespread mismanagement within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). According to an audit released by the VA last month, nearly 60,000 veterans are still waiting for their initial appointment. The House of Representatives acted swiftly to address the systemic failures at the VA that led to the unacceptable treatment of veterans in Ohio and across the country. Last month, the House passed the Veteran Access to Care Act with unanimous support. This bipartisan legislation was the first step toward implementing much needed reforms at the VA. It included provisions to allow veterans to receive private care outside of the VA if they have experienced extensive wait times or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility.

Additionally, the House passed the Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act, a bill that empowers the Veterans Affairs Secretary to demote or remove senior officials who are not doing their jobs. Veterans who depend on the VA have an expectation that senior leaders within the agency are accountable to them. However, it has become apparent that senior officials who presided over negligence and mismanagement linked to preventable deaths, patient safety incidents, and backlog increases received a bonus or impressive performance review. This is unacceptable.

The United States Senate followed the House’s lead and passed similar legislation to reform the VA. This past week, the House voted on a package that was the product of a compromise between House and Senate leaders to reach an agreement on how to best address the problems at the VA.

The Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act is a bipartisan, bicameral package of bills that will bring more accountability and provide meaningful reforms to the VA. Highlights from this legislation include providing $10 billion for veterans to seek private care at hospitals and clinics outside the VA, and $5 billion to allow the department to hire more doctors, nurses, and medical staff. It provides $1.5 billion to be spent on leases to use other medical facilities at 27 sites around the country. It makes it easier for the VA Secretary to fire staff at a department where officials covered up long wait times and prevents the VA from awarding bonuses to employees for the next two years. Lastly, it requires public colleges to provide in-state tuition to veterans and eligible dependents.

Passage of the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act is evidence that when the House and Senate work together, much can be accomplished. This legislation will not only bring accountability to the VA, it will also enhance veterans’ access to care as well as the quality of care that they receive. I look forward to the President signing this important legislation into law.

If you need any additional information, please visit my website at renacci.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-3876, Wadsworth office: (330) 334-0040, or Parma office: (440) 882-6779. I also encourage you to subscribe to my Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages to get updates on my work in Washington and the 16th District.