U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald testified before the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday and the Florida congressmen running the committee intend to examine the Obama administrations $169 billion proposal for the department.
McDonalds confrontation with U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., sparked most of the national headlinesbut the VA secretary insisted he was helping turn the troubled department around. Last year, reports about altered waiting lists at VA medical centers around the nation rocked the department as news emerged that more than 30 veterans in the Phoenix area who were on altered lists died as they awaited treatment. This led to the ouster of Eric Shinseki as VA secretary.
McDonald stressed that the VA could become a model agency with respect to customer experience and stewardship of taxpayer resources in the aftermath.
"VA is emerging from one of the most serious crises the department has ever experienced," McDonald said "We now have before us the greatest opportunity we've ever had to improve care for veterans.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the committee, ripped the VAs "mismanagement, bureaucratic indifference and a systemic lack of accountability" and called for thorough housecleaning. Miller promised that his committee would be watching closely.
"Given VA's past struggles with transparency, honesty and accountability, we can't afford to take anything other than a 'trust but verify' approach, Miller said.
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the committee, agreed with Miller.
Historically, Congress has either matched or increased the presidents request to assist the VA in fulfilling its sacred obligations to our nations heroes, Bilirakis said on Wednesday. However, the VA has left millions unspent in the medical care account and tens of thousands opened vacancies since 2010. Under previous regimes, the VA had not provided sufficient data in justifying significant budget increases. Therefore, considering the modest growth in VAs patient population and workload, I would expect a detailed explanation for VAs requested 7.4 percent increase from last years budget.
Still, Bilirakis said he felt optimistic that McDonald could help turn things around.
I feel obligated to our nations heroes to adequately fund the VA so it can effectively fulfill its mission, Bilirakis said. Under the capable leadership of Secretary McDonald, I am hopeful that it wont be business as usual at the VA. I look forward to more transparency, accountability, and common-sense governance under Secretary McDonalds management. Our true American heroes deserve no less.
Democrats on the committee, led by ranking member U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., backed Obamas proposed budget increase. In her opening remarks, Brown said more money was needed for the VA.
This is the first year that VA benefit programs are to be funded under advance appropriations. Now veterans wont have to worry as much if we here in Congress cant do our job, Brown said.
Too often, all we hear about are the problems VA is having I would like us to also consider what we can do to fix these problems and to point out what VA is getting right, Brown said. I am pleased with this budget request, and hope that these dollars can fix what is wrong and strengthen what is right with the VA.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
