Congressman Farenthold on Demanding VA Accountability

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently flagged the Corpus Christi VA clinic, and 7 other VA facilities in Texas, for further investigation. The investigators suspected willful misconduct at these clinics, but have not determined a cause yet. I am gravely concerned that the problems being reported out of VA clinics throughout the country are occurring here at home - where we expect that veterans to receive proper care.

I’ve heard too many personal stories from Texas veterans and their families involving delays with the VA and how these delays are dramatically affecting their lives. My staff and I are doing everything we can to intervene on their behalf and ensure they receive the treatment they have earned. I'm glad that the VA will be reviewing the reported issues within the Corpus Christi facility and looking into the problems I've heard about first-hand from the veterans I represent.

In the meantime, I will continue to closely monitor the VA's investigation and reports from local veterans and demand the VA takes swift action to address the unacceptable treatment practices being reported out of Corpus Christi and VA clinics throughout the nation.

Last week, I continued my efforts by helping pass 2 important veterans bill in the House.

The first bill was, H.R. 2072, the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act, which will increase oversight of the VA. Many of our veterans are not getting adequate treatment from the VA, which is unacceptable. HR 2072 requires the VA Inspector General to report to Congress when the Secretary of the VA did not properly address a report of negligence. The names of the VA managers responsible will also be submitted to Congress to motivate leadership in the VA to serve veterans first.

I also cosponsored H.R. 4810, the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, to force the VA to provide for veterans' treatment elsewhere if it can't deliver patient care within 14 days. Under the bill the House just passed, if the VA can't accept a new veteran patient, the veteran is allowed to be treated by a non-VA facility and expense the treatment to the VA.

The bill also gives the (incoming) VA Secretary the ability to fire poor-performing senior employees without going through red tape.

While some steps have been taken to fix the culture of neglect in the VA, it's not enough. I'm continuing to call on the VA to take swift action to do its job.