May 30, 2014

Manchin Statement on Shinseki Resignation and the VA

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement on the resignation of Eric Shinseki as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Eric Shinseki is an honorable and courageous man who devoted his life to protecting our nation, its service members and veterans. His decision to resign as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the right one, though I regret that he had to do it.  

“The past decade has seen a dramatic rise in new VA claims and beneficiaries as veterans return from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, new policies have been introduced to fast-track disability claims for a range of new service-connected illnesses, placing additional stress on the VA. However, that’s no excuse for failing to provide care to veterans.  

“Consecutive presidents and congresses have sought to address the growth in claims by increasing the VA’s budget every year since 2001, and by nearly 70 percent since 2009. And while the VA has been provided with the funding it asked for, recent accounts demonstrate that it is failing to prioritize its resources.  

“We know the VA has too few doctors, outdated computer systems and too much bureaucracy. These are superficial challenges that can—and must—be addressed. We must also fix their root causes: poor VA decision making at the national level about how to prioritize resources coupled with a culture that tolerates dishonest behavior.  

“The VA must now devote itself entirely to reform. I have urged the Obama Administration to expedite its internal review of the VA, to embrace its findings, good or bad, and to act decisively to hold VA officials to account for their performance.  

“We are obligated as a government to provide for the defense of the nation and for the care of our defenders. We know what the problems with the VA medical system are, and are learning new details every day. We must now act promptly and firmly to implement the solutions and to ensure that our veterans are provided with quality care.”

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