June 07, 2022

Manchin Joins President Biden For Signing of his Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen VA Oversight

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined President Joe Biden for the signing of his bipartisan Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021, which will provide the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) the authority to conduct thorough investigations. President Biden also signed six other bills on various Veteran priorities.

“Our Veterans have made great sacrifices to protect our nation, and it is our duty to take care of them. That starts with ensuring accountability at the VA,” Senator Manchin said. “Today I joined President Biden for the signing of my bipartisan legislation to give the VA OIG the authority to conduct thorough investigations. This authority is vital to ensuring horrific tragedies like the deaths of seven Veterans at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center never happen again. I’m proud of our bipartisan efforts to get this bill across the finish line, and I thank President Biden for prioritizing our Veterans and their safety.”

The Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021 provides the VA OIG with the authority to subpoena testimony from former VA employees who have left federal service, former contractor personnel who performed work for the VA or other potentially relevant individuals during the course of its inspections, reviews and investigations.

More background on the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021 can be found here.

The following bills were also signed into law:
  • S. 3527 – Authorizes VA to transfer the name of a VA facility when it was relocated
  • S. 2687 – Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2021
  • S. 2533 – MAMMO for Veterans Act
  • S. 1760 – Designates the Oahu, Hawaii CBOC as the “Daniel Kahikina Akaka VA CBOC”
  • S. 2514 – Designates the Provo Veterans Center in Orem, Utah, as the “Col. Gail S. Halvorsen ‘Candy Bomber’ Veterans Center”
  • S. 4089 – Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act
  • S. 2102 – Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act