05/19/14 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) released the following statement after the Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs Robert Petzel announced his resignation this afternoon:
“On Monday, I sent a letter to President Obama, along with 15 of my House colleagues, requesting he uphold accountability at the VA by requiring the immediate resignations of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Under Secretaries Robert Petzel and Allison Hickey. Today, with Petzel’s resignation, we are one step closer to holding the VA accountable for their actions. I’m curious why Petzel, who announced months ago he was retiring, finally chose to resign the day after he was grilled in a Senate hearing,” Walorski, a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs said. “Unfortunately, it has taken dozens of wrongful deaths due to VA negligence, including 13 in Indiana, for the inefficiency at the VA to garner national headlines. I will continue to fight on behalf of our nation’s 23 million veterans and call for the resignations of Secretary Shinseki and Under Secretary Hickey.”
Recent reports have linked many Veterans Affairs patient care problems to widespread mismanagement within VA facilities, including dozens of preventable deaths, including 13 in Indiana, at VA medical centers nationwide.
On Monday, Walorski, along with 15 of her House colleagues, sent a letter to President Obama requesting he uphold accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs by requiring the resignation of three senior VA officials.
Last Thursday, Walorski voted to subpoena records from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Last month, Walorski joined Speaker Boehner and fellow GOP lawmakers to join in supporting greater VA accountability.
Walorski has co-sponsored H.R. 4031 the “Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014” in the House of Representatives to address widespread problems currently plaguing the VA.
