Congressman Smith Supports VA Bill

I voted in favor of H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014. The House passed the bill by a vote of 390-33.

The bill gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs authority to remove an employee of the Senior Executive Service if the Secretary determines that the employee’s performance deserves removal.

The passage of this bill occurs at a particularly important time as the bill makes it easier to fire or demote senior officials at the VA. Given the recent allegations that VA officials in Texas manipulated medical appointment data in order to conceal long wait times for veterans seeking care, this bill will help to hold those individuals accountable. Our veterans have risked their lives so that all Americans might be free. The least we can do is ensure that they have timely access to the medical treatment they have earned.

In addition to voting in favor of H.R. 4031, last week I spearheaded a letter along with 23 members of the Texas delegation to Veterans Affairs Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin calling on him to immediately initiate an investigation into claims of waitlist manipulation at the North Central Federal Clinic in San Antonio, the Austin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic and the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. I stand by that letter, and once again call for an investigation into these allegations. The 21st Congressional District is home to many veterans, current members of the military and their families. I will continue to make sure that our veterans have timely access to the medical care they have earned.