WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) released the following statement after Monday’s announcement from American Legion National Commander, Daniel M. Dellinger, calling for the resignation of senior Veteran Affairs (VA) administration officials.
“There is no excuse of delayed care for the millions of men and women who have fought and defended our country. Unfortunately, it has taken dozens of wrongful deaths due to VA negligence, including 13 in Indiana, for the mismanagement at the VA to get the attention it rightfully deserves,” Walorski said. “Nowhere else in the country would this lack of accountability and transparency be allowed. The American people deserve better and I will continue to fight for increased accountability in our government.”
Congresswoman Walorski will conduct a phone interview on the What’s Your Opinion Show on Thursday at 10:15.
Recent reports have linked many Veterans Affairs (VA) patient care problems to widespread mismanagement within VA facilities, including at least 31 preventable deaths at VA medical centers nationwide that were all completely preventable. Several examples of this trend can be found on the VA Accountability Watch portion of the HVAC website.
Last month, as part of her efforts to bring accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Walorski participated in a House Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing entitled, “A Continued Assessment of Delays in VA Medical Care and Preventable Veteran Deaths.” Walorski, a member of the committee, heard heartbreaking testimony from Barry Coates, a terminally ill veteran, who spoke of the gross negligence and crippling backlog within the VA medical system.
Also 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.
