Senator Patty Murray's office issued the following yesterday:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office
Tuesday, July 08, 2014 (202) 224-2834
Murray Delivers Remarks on VA Reform, Secretary and Conference Committee
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), senior member of the
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, delivered remarks on the Senate floor
regarding reform at
the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), the VA Secretary nominee, and
the ongoing conference committee.
Full remarks as prepared:
“M.
President, I believe that when it comes to caring for our nation’s
heroes, we cannot accept anything less than excellence. Like many of my
colleagues I have been
very troubled by the most recent allegations of VA failing to provide
veterans with timely health care. VA generally offers very high quality
health care and does many things as well as -- or better than -- the
private sector. But when you are caring for the
nation’s heroes, and you have the backing of the full resources of the
Federal government, ‘just as good’ is not enough –
we expect more.
“So
I am very frustrated to be here again talking about these deeply
disturbing issues, and the Department’s repeated failures to change. GAO
and the Inspector General
have reported on these problems many times over the years. And last
Congress we did a great deal of work around wait times, particularly for
mental health care. I think VA is starting to see that business as
usual is not acceptable.
“The
Administration has taken steps to begin addressing some of the major,
system-wide problems -- but much more needs to be done. Tomorrow, when I
meet with the President’s
nominee for VA Secretary, I will ask him about how he plans to make
these changes. And that is why I am very glad to be serving on the
veterans conference committee – because Congress needs to act as well.
“The
most important thing we can do right now is to pass responsible and
effective legislation to bring much needed reforms to VA. And we need to
do it soon.
“There
have been major bipartisan efforts in both the House and the Senate to
move legislation addressing these problems. Many Members have been part
of those efforts
and I commend them all for their commitment to bipartisanship and for
putting the needs of our veterans first.
“Now
it is vital that we continue to build on this bipartisan momentum – and
continue making progress if we are going to address some of the
immediate accountability
and transparency concerns plaguing the VA, and to fix its deep-seated
structural and cultural challenges.
“I
know Members have a wide range of concerns with the bills. And I
believe we can address these concerns responsibly and in a way that puts
our veterans first and
gives the VA the tools they need to address the challenges they face.
That means building and strengthening the VA system so it delivers the
best care over the long term.
“But
it is important for us to act quickly to start making these changes.
We cannot allow this process to break down. Veterans are still waiting
to get the care they
need. Many of us were rightly outraged that VA did not act to help
veterans – because the Department ignored all the information and did
nothing.
“This
Congress must not do the same thing and fail veterans by not acting. I
urge all of my colleagues to work as hard and as quickly as possible to
finalize an agreement
and get it to the President.
“As
more problems will be uncovered, and the investigations will proceed,
and we will need even more action from VA, the Administration, and
Congress.
“Because
the nation made a promise to the men and women who answered the call of
duty—and one of the most important ways we uphold that is by making
sure our veterans
can access the health care they need and deserve – no matter what it
takes.”
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Meghan Roh
Press Secretary | New Media Director
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
Mobile: (202) 365-1235
Office: (202) 224-2834
