Concerned Veterans for America released a series of online ads Wednesday aimed at gaining senators’ support for legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs officials to more easily remove employees who have engaged in misconduct, a process that now takes months or years.
The ads urge viewers to call their senators and urge them to support the VA Accountability First Act, which passed the House last month mostly along party lines, although it had the support of 10 Democrats. In their ads, Concerned Veterans for America are targeting 15 Democrats, including Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Bill Nelson of Florida, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Claire McCaskill of Missouri. The ads are also aimed at two Republicans, Sens. Dean Heller of Nevada and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
“How many more veterans will die waiting for care from the Department of Veterans Affairs?” asks the ad voice-over. “How many more will be neglected by the people hired to serve them? How many more will suffer before the Senate acts?”
The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and has not been scheduled for a vote. If enacted, it would shorten the termination and appeals process for employees who have engaged in misconduct, allow the VA secretary to recoup bonuses awarded in error or given to employees who are found to engage in misconduct, and reduce the pensions of VA employees who are convicted of felonies that influenced their job performance.
“The Senate has a real opportunity to pass strong VA accountability measures this year, and they should take it,” said Mark Lucas, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. “The VA Accountability First Act of 2017 will help Secretary Shulkin get rid of the bad VA employees who drive a toxic culture and fail to give our veterans the care they need. Veterans shouldn’t have to suffer at the hands of incompetent or negligent VA employees. We urge the Senate to prioritize sending the VA Accountability First Act to President Trump’s desk.”
This week marks three years since the discovery of a major U.S. scandal on veterans healthcare, in which it was discovered that delayed care resulted in patient deaths.
VA Secretary David Shulkin has indicated support for the bill. Upon discovery that a VA employee had watched porn with a patient, he released a statement last month saying Congress should enact legislation to make it easier for him to fire errant employees. The employee is on paid administrative leave but has not been fired because the agency is required by law to provide 30 days of notice to its workers beforehand.
