Press Releases

10.09.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz: Unacceptable for VA to Stonewall Congressional Inquiry into Mar-a-Lago Shadow Rulers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), released the following statement after he sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to comply with an August 8 request to provide the Committee any and all communications between VA officials and Ike Perlmutter, Bruce Moskowitz, and Marc Sherman as well as travel records to and from Mar-a-Lago. The August 8 request followed news … Read More

09.27.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Hosts Hearing On Veteran Suicide Prevention

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the full committee met in open session to discuss veteran suicide prevention, hear from experts in the veteran community, and question current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials over the progress of core VA initiatives aimed at eliminating suicide among veterans. The hearing comes one day after the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention … Read More

09.26.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement Following Release Of VA National Veteran Suicide Data Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention released its report, “National Suicide Data Report 2005-2016.” “As a veteran as well as the original author of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, I believe that the VA report released today simply reiterates what many of us have known for a long … Read More

09.25.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement Following Release Of Inspector General Report On Veteran’s Suicide At Minneapolis VA Healthcare System

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its report, “Review of Mental Health Care Provided Prior to a Veteran’s Suicide Minneapolis VA Health Care System Minnesota.” “This is profoundly unacceptable,” said Ranking Member Walz. “The findings outlined in the Inspector General’s report are deeply disturbing. The finding … Read More

09.04.18 • Press Release

Tester, Sullivan, Roe & Walz Push VA to Study Medical Cannabis as Alternative Therapy for Veterans with PTSD or Chronic Pain

(Washington D.C.) - U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Representatives Phil Roe (TN-01) and Tim Walz (MN-01) are urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to begin clinical trials to better understand the potential benefits or dangers of medical cannabis use. In a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, the members ask him to begin a large-scale study as soon as possible, so veterans using medical cannabis to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic … Read More

08.08.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Responds To Reports Of Mar-a-Lago Shadow Rulers At Department Of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), sent the following letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie requesting that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide any and all communications between VA officials and Ike Perlmutter, Bruce Moskowitz, and Marc Sherman to Congress without delay. The letter follows news reports alleging that the three men, all members of President Trump’s private Palm Beach, Florida club Mar-a-Lago, … Read More

07.26.18 • Press Release

Democrats Call On Department of Justice To Investigate Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary For Perjury

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), sent the following letter to Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately investigate Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acting Secretary Peter O’Rourke for false or misleading statements made before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on June 26, 2018 and July 17, 2018. Ranking Member Walz was joined by Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA) and Kathleen … Read More

07.24.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Applauds House Passage Of Seven Bipartisan Veterans Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed seven bipartisan veterans bills, including multiple pieces of legislation championed by Democrats: “We owe our deepest gratitude and respect to the brave men and women who risked their lives to defend this nation,” said Ranking Member Tim Walz. “The legislation the House passed today will make meaningful improvements to the … Read More

07.24.18 • Press Release

Vice Ranking Member Takano Hosts Hearing To Assess Implementation Of Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after the full committee met in open session to assess how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has implemented the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 since the legislation was signed into law. During the hearing, Vice Ranking Member Takano addressed several challenges facing appeals modernization, including leadership vacancies and … Read More

07.23.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement Following Confirmation Of Robert Wilkie To Be Secretary of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Robert Wilkie to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): “I firmly believe that any individual nominated by President Trump to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs will inherently work to move key VA services, initiatives, and resources into the private sector,” said Ranking Member Tim Walz. “That is why I find Mr. … Read More

07.19.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Calls On Office Of Special Counsel To Investigate VA Officials For Title 5, Hatch Act Violations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), released the following statement after he led a group of nine committee Democrats in sending a letter to Special Counsel Henry Kerner requesting an investigation into whether Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Peter O’Rourke or his staff have violated the Hatch Act or other Title 5 prohibitions against removing, demoting, or reassigning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees for … Read More

07.18.18 • Press Release

Ranking Members Walz, Wasserman Schultz Respond To Republican Effort To Undermine VA Healthcare Through Budget Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), alongside House Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MCVA) Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), released the following statement in response to a letter sent by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) and House Budget Committee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-03) to the members of the conference committee for H.R. 5895, … Read More

07.17.18 • Press Release

Vice Ranking Member Takano Hosts Hearing To Assess Implementation Of VA Accountability Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after the full Committee met in open session to investigate how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (Accountability Act) has been implemented over the past year. The Accountability Act was a compromise bill that was intended to give VA more tools to hold bad employees accountable while maintaining … Read More

07.12.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement After Committee Passes 10 Pieces Of Bipartisan Veterans Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the committee voted to advance 10 pieces of bipartisan veterans legislation, including multiple bills championed by Democrats: “Once again, our committee came together to improve the lives of our nation’s veterans,” said Rep. Walz. “I could not be prouder of the legislation we advanced today and the work our committee accomplishes on a daily basis. I am … Read More

07.12.18 • Press Release

Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz Name Lawmakers to New Subcommittee on Technology Modernization

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved the creation and leadership of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. The subcommittee was announced by Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Walz (D-Minn.) on June 20 and will focus on oversight of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) technology projects, specifically the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization program. “As the department embarks on the nation’s largest EHR overhaul, it … Read More

06.26.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz: Leadership, Transparency, And Oversight Critical To Success Of VA Electronic Health Record Modernization

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the full Committee met in open session to conduct an oversight hearing regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) $16 billion Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization program. “Veterans have waited decades for an electronic health record that is interoperable with DoD, and they deserve a system that works flawlessly,” said Rep Walz. “To get EHR … Read More

06.26.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Applauds House Passage of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017. The bill grew out of legislation Ranking Member Walz championed in previous Congresses. The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act would finally grant presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to U.S. service members who served off the coast of Vietnam during the … Read More

06.20.18 • Press Release

Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz Announce EHR Oversight Hearing, Create New Subcommittee to Focus on IT Projects

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, respectively, announced a hearing entitled, “VA Electronic Health Record Modernization: The Beginning of the Beginning.” The full committee hearing will be held on June 26, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz also announced they will create a new subcommittee under the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to focus on … Read More

06.20.18 • Press Release

Roe, Walz Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution to Commemorate National GI Bill Week

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, respectively, introduced a resolution to designate the week of June 18, 2018 as National GI Bill Commemoration Week. Senators Carper (D-Del.), Isakson (R-Ga.), Sullivan (R-Ala.) and Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the Senate version of this resolution. The first-ever GI Bill was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, … Read More

06.19.18 • Press Release

RM Walz Responds To Unprecedented Attack By Acting VA Secretary O’Rourke On VA Inspector General

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement reacting to a threatening letter sent by Acting Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter O’Rourke to Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael Missal: “The letter sent from Acting Secretary O’Rourke to VA Inspector General Missal is beyond the pale, even for this administration,” said Walz. “In his letter, O’Rourke made an explicit attempt … Read More

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