05.04.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement condemning the House Republicans rush to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and to warn of the negative consequences the bill could have on millions of veterans and their families across the United States:
“It is absolutely shameful that Republicans would put partisan procedural politics above the needs of our nation’s heroes,” Rep. Walz said. “We were loud and
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04.28.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after a report to Congress was released regarding the future of Arlington National Cemetery, which found that the cemetery will run out of space in 2041 if proper action is not taken.
“Arlington National Cemetery is some of our nation’s most hallowed ground, held in the heart of all Americans as a symbol of sacrifice of generations of Americans. Our American
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04.27.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, an office that was originally proposed and championed by Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona during the 113th Congress in the wake of the Phoenix VA crisis.
“It is ridiculous that Trump is going to take
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04.21.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) alongside Democratic members of the Committee released the following statement regarding a proposal by Congressional Republicans on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to institute a monthly reduction in pay for troops as a means of offsetting the cost of expanding G.I. Bill eligibility and longevity for future veterans. The proposal being considered would put in place a $100 per month
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04.19.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed a bill to extend the VA Choice program past its initial end date of August 2017 into law:
“While the VA Choice program has expanded access to quality and timely care in many communities across the U.S., for many communities like mine in southern Minnesota, there is still much room for improvement,” Rep. Walz said. “Our focus
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04.13.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement following the release of an Office of Inspector General report that detailed serious and systemic issues with the Washington, DC VA:
“The details documented in this report regarding serious patient safety issues at the Washington, DC VA are outrageous and unacceptable. When you have systemic failure on this level, management must be held accountable. The House
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04.05.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to extend the VA Choice program past its initial end date of August 2017:
“While the VA Choice program has expanded access to quality and timely care in many communities across the U.S., for many communities, like mine in southern Minnesota, there is still much room for improvement,” Rep. Walz said. “Our focus should
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04.05.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Ranking Member Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statements after the DAMA Subcommittee conducted a legislative hearing to examine 7 pieces of bipartisan legislation that if signed into law will improve the lives of veterans living with disabilities across the country.
“Today
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04.05.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) issued the follow statement after the Committee conducted an oversight hearing investigating concerns that Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) staff routinely failed to respond to veterans seeking help in a timely manner. Such concerns were revealed through a VA Office of the Investigators General report entitled “Healthcare Inspection - Evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Crisis Line,
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04.03.17 • Press Release
PHOENIX, AZ - Yesterday, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-Minn.), conducted an oversight visit of the Phoenix Department of Veterans Affairs facility, where he met with veterans, facility leadership, frontline care givers and support staff. The Phoenix VA was subject of national headlines when in 2014 it was revealed veterans were dying while waiting for care. Whistleblowers at the facility were central in Congress and the Federal Government’s effort to expand
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03.28.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Cali.) announced the re-introduction of the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act of 2017, a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at tackling the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit-claims backlog.
“After these brave men and women put their lives on the line for us, the least we can do is ensure they are getting the benefits they have earned in a timely manner," said Rep. Walz. "I
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03.23.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Democratic Members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee expressed outrage over House Republicans' rush to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to the floor of the House of Representatives, and to warn of the negative consequences the bill will have for millions of veterans and their families across the United States:
“As a result of AHCA’s expedited path to the House floor without regular order, millions of veterans are now facing the possibility of losing
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03.22.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement expressing concern over the House Republicans rush to pass American Health Care Act (AHCA) to floor of the House of Representatives and to warn of the negative consequences the bill will have on millions of veterans and their families across the United States:
“This rushed amendment, crafted in the middle of the night in a desperate attempt to prevent this unpopular
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03.22.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an investigative hearing following reports regarding the usage of official time for union activity:
“As someone who is both a proud veteran and a proud former union member, I can personally attest for the positive impact a strong union representation can have on a VA workplace
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03.22.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health conducted a hearing entitled, “Healthy Hiring: Enabling VA to Recruit and Retain Quality Providers,” in order to learn more about the root causes of the staffing shortages persistent at the VA and ways in which the Department can boost recruitment and retention of talented providers. House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) and Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member Julia Brownley
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03.20.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) issued the follow statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Investigator General released its report entitled “Healthcare Inspection - Evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Crisis Line (VCL),” which found that VCL staff did not adequately respond to veterans’ urgent needs on a routine basis.
“Let me be clear: the ongoing issues with the Veterans Crisis Line
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03.17.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (MN-1) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1367, “To Improve VA's Authority to Hire, Retain Physicians.”
“Today, members from both sides of the aisle came together to pass valuable legislation that will improve the VA’s capacity to recruit, hire, and retain talented doctors as well as improve the VA’s ability to compete with non-VA medical facilities when it comes to attracting
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03.16.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (MN-1) offered an amendment to H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act, in order to protect frontline VA caregivers and whistleblowers while holding bad managers accountable.
“There is not a single member of Congress who doesn’t believe in strengthening accountability at the VA; doing so is a critical step in ensuring veterans always come first and receive the highest quality of care available,”
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03.08.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (MN-1) released the following statement after the Committee considered several bills for mark-up, including legislation that would increase VA accountability, improve the VA Choice program, and ensure that all veterans who are awarded Purple Hearts receive full G.I. Bill benefits.
“Passing the Full GI Bill for Purple Heart Recipients is a key victory in the effort to ensure our veterans get the benefits
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03.07.17 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, Ranking Member Tim Walz (MN-1) and the House Committee on Veterans Affairs examined the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Choice Program and the future of community based care for veterans. In doing so, the Committee explored the program’s history, strengths and weaknesses, and discussed what effective VA community care programs should look like going forward.
The Committee received testimony from VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin, who has made innovating
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