June 09, 2014

Ranking Member Mike Michaud’s Statement on VA Scheduling Practices Audit

Washington, DC – Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mike Michaud (D-ME) offered the following statement today in response to the VA’s internal audit on scheduling practices:

“Today’s latest report from the VA points to the work we have ahead of us. Veterans at too many facilities are not receiving the high-quality care that they deserve, and we will not stop working until we have rooted out all the systemic failures plaguing the VA.

“Paramount to addressing these failures is ensuring accountability of those who allowed our veterans to languish on secret wait lists. This accountability must be comprehensive. While current legislative efforts have focused on a narrow set of VA executives, I have introduced legislation – H.R. 4399 – that would apply to an additional 80,000 executives within the VA. If we are serious about implementing meaningful reform, I’m confident that this bill is an important step to address a group of executives currently not covered by legislation we’ve previously passed.”

H.R. 4399, the Comprehensive Department of Veterans Affairs Performance Management and Accountability Act of 2014, would:

  • Require performance objectives for senior executives that are tied to organizational goals and veterans outcomes.
  • Ensure senior executives’ progress on meeting objectives is tied to annual performance reviews.
  • Submit an annual report to Congress describing any and all actions taken with respect to senior executives who receive less-than-successful performance reviews.
  • Cover all senior executives within the VA – both those in the Senior Executive Service and Title 38 employees.