May 29, 2014

Ranking Member Michaud Responds to VA Officials’ Testimony

Washington, D.C.  – This evening three officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs appeared before the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in a rare, four hour evening hearing.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME), Ranking Member on the Committee, issued the following statement following the hearing:

“I’d like to thank the VA officials who appeared before our committee tonight. While I was encouraged to finally have direct engagement between members of our Committee and the VA, there are still many more answers we need about what happened at Phoenix and other VA facilities, and what steps we can all take to ensure they aren’t repeated. Our committee is united in a bipartisan fashion on this, and we intend to continue pushing the VA for answers until we have a system in place that ensures our veterans are receiving the care they are so deserving of.

“Earlier today, I was extremely disappointed to read in the Inspector General’s interim report that many of the alleged failures in care at Phoenix have been borne out. These failures are unacceptable, which is why I was glad to see the report include several very clear steps Secretary Shinseki can take immediately to begin righting these wrongs.

“I urge the Secretary to act immediately on implementing these recommendations. And once we have a full IG report, I absolutely expect those responsible for perpetuating any actions that ended up harming our vets to be held fully accountable.”

The officials who appeared before the Committee this evening were Joan Mooney, Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs; Dr. Thomas Lynch, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Operations and Management; and Michael Huff, Congressional Relations Officer.

This evening three officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs appeared before the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in a rare, four hour evening hearing.