FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Murray Press Office
Tuesday, November 3, 2015 (202) 224-2834
Sen. Murray Meets with VA Inspector General Nominee To Discuss Accountability, Better Care for Veterans
Senator Murray meets with Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General nominee, Michael J. Missal
(Washington, D.C.) – Today,
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Veterans’ Affairs
Committee, met with Michael J. Missal,
the nominee for Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Inspector General position is critical to oversight of the
Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA Inspector General conducts
investigations into allegations of fraud and abuse, reviews
management and administration of VA facilities and programs, and
conducts evaluations of VA’s activities in order to ensure the integrity
of its programs and operations. As someone who has spent her career
fighting on behalf of veterans, Senator Murray takes
the VA Inspector General position very seriously.
During
their meeting, Sen. Murray and Mr. Missal discussed a number of her
priorities, including the delivery of mental health services for
veterans, a commitment to reducing wait times, and a better way for
veterans
to get care outside of the VA when necessary.
“Our
country makes a promise to care for its veterans long after the war is
over, but as we’ve all seen, the VA has failed our men and women far too
many times in recent years. That’s why choosing the right watchdog
is so critical,” Sen. Murray said. “As the daughter of a World War II veteran and a senior member of the Veterans’
Affairs Committee, I will look to the next VA Inspector General to
provide accurate and timely information
on how our country can better care for the men and women who’ve served. I
appreciate hearing directly from Mr. Missal today, and I look forward
to learning more about his plans to move the VA in the right direction
as his nomination process continues.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Missal would be the first permanent VA Inspector General since December 2013.
Sen. Murray has spoken on the Senate floor twice on veterans’ issues in recent weeks—to call
for an overhaul to the VA Choice Program, and to urge her colleagues to support her bill to help homeless veterans,
which passed the Senate and is now awaiting action in the House.
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Kerry Arndt
Press Secretary
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
202-224-0223
kerry_arndt@murray.senate.gov