WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) released the following statement yesterday after the House passed H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act of 2015.
“More than a year after learning that VA hospitals lied about patient wait times and veterans died waiting for an appointment, only three employees have been fired. The fact that our president and his administration neglected to hold employees accountable for their actions is outright disrespectful to our veterans.”
“With passage of today’s bill, the House took yet another step to make it easier for the VA to fire bad employees. Our veterans made great sacrifices to defend our nation and its freedoms. Now we have to uphold our end of the bargain by ensuring they get the care they have earned and deserve.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs released that 280,000 employees were reportedly involved in the scandal, but only three have actually been terminated.
According to Pallazo, The VA Accountability Act holds those involved responsible by streamlining the removal process for employees with poor performance or misconduct as well as enhances whistleblower protections.
