Last week the Department of Veterans Affairs sent letters to thousands of veterans asking them to reapply for benefits they’ve already earned and deserve. When pressed for answers, the VA blamed a “computer glitch” that left 35,000 combat veterans ineligible for VA health care services.
In the middle of the whirl of Thanksgiving festivities, Black Friday advertisements and Christmas preparations, I hope these letters from the VA don’t get lost. This poorly timed outreach seems to be an afterthought. Hopefully it wasn’t too late for any deserving veteran in need of care.
As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this all-too-familiar routine from the VA. It has become a trend. Americans are tired of reading one outrageous story after another and more excuses from VA leadership.
The VA has failed to explain why this computer glitch in the software went unnoticed for five years. It listed thousands of applications from Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans as pending due to missing paperwork. However, the missing means-test paperwork isn’t even required for enrollment according to the VA’s own policy. Regardless of current income, all combat veterans are automatically eligible for VA care for five years after being discharged.
The clock ticks while our veterans wait. VA Secretary Bob McDonald has refused to fix this “computer glitch.” And so if a veteran encountered a medical emergency, tried to get mental health services, or just need a routine checkup — they would be left footing the entire bill because they are not listed as enrolled in VA health care services. Yet the VA is in no hurry to take responsibility, fix the problem, or hold anyone accountable.
In fact, all we got from Secretary McDonald was more excuses. A brave VA whistleblower, Scott Davis, said, “They’re choosing to take the slowest route that’s going to have the least amount of results.”
It has been four months since House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Miller asked for answers, yet the VA has remained silent. A November follow-up requested the VA to share with the committee a plan to resolve this glitch — and again, silence.
This neglect from the VA demands a response and requires leadership. Instead, the VA has chosen to reward failing bureaucrats with bonuses and relocation benefits, zero accountability and plenty of excuses for their deplorable behavior.
Last month during a committee hearing, Secretary McDonald admitted to me that he agreed with the recently released Independent Assessment that found the VA “in the midst of a leadership crisis.” But instead of accepting personal responsibility, he promised things would change with another round of employees he hired — yet the systemic problems at the VA continue.
There is no easy solution to fix everything wrong with the VA. But the first step towards transforming and righting a bureaucracy weighed down dysfunction is accountability. For this reason, the House passed the Veterans Accountability Act in July. This will make it easier to remove the bad apples within the VA and increase whistleblower protections. Instead of getting behind this much needed change, President Obama issued a veto threat, and Democrats sided with unions and special interests.
We can’t play politics with the health of veterans. And we can’t continue to just accept more of the VA’s excuses. I demand Secretary McDonald urgently address the “leadership crisis” he’s admitted to and that was confirmed by an independent assessment. It is time to better honor those who have served our country.
Congressman Tim Huelskamp represents the First District of Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Huelskamp serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee. He is the Chairman of the Tea Party Caucus and Pro-Life Caucus Whip. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
