September 22, 2016

Acting Ranking Member Takano, Rep. Kuster, Release Statement Regarding Inspector General Report on Greater Colorado VA Construction

Washington, D.C. – Today, Acting Ranking Member Mark Takano and Congresswoman Annie Kuster, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, released the following statement after the VA Office of Inspector General published its report on the construction of the Greater Colorado VA Medical Center.

“The VA Inspector General report on the construction of the Greater Colorado VA Medical Center is an infuriating read for anyone committed to caring for our veterans and protecting American taxpayers. The report confirms that the project’s significant cost overruns and timing delays were completely avoidable and resulted from failures in leadership at the highest levels of the VA. We are deeply disappointed in the senior officials who failed to fulfill their obligation to serve veterans.

“This episode highlights the need for VA to develop and train strong senior leadership. It also demonstrates the importance of empowering employees at every level to speak out when they witness poor performance or misconduct.

“According to the report, previous testimony given to Congress about the project may have included deliberate misrepresentations of fact. Anyone who lies in their testimony to this Committee must be held accountable. We call on the Department of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation into the testimony of Glenn Haggstrom as well as other VA officials who may have distorted or withheld information from Congress.

“We also call for a hearing of the Full Committee of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to examine the details of this report. It is vital that we learn the lessons of this failed project to ensure it never happens again.”

 

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