[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE BUCK STOPS HERE

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, President Truman had a plaque on his desk 
that said, ``The buck stops here.'' Many veterans are probably 
wondering why this old poker expression doesn't apply to the VA. 
However, on Monday the House passed H.R. 280, which gives the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs the authority to make sure the bucks do stop on 
back bonuses given to management of the VA, which is very, very 
backlogged.
  Mr. Speaker, I am glad the House has acted, and I urge my colleagues 
in the Senate and the President to join this effort. It is clear that 
it is time to send a message to the VA that the days of rewarding 
subpar work and service for hidden and lost files or long waiting 
periods are over.
  We need to continue to fight for commonsense reforms that will 
provide this type of system that our veterans deserve. At many regional 
offices of the VA around the country, including my own of Oakland, 
veterans have waited far too long to have their benefit claims 
processed and are struggling to access the care they need and deserve. 
There are countless examples of dysfunction, and the VA is falling 
short of its mission.
  Does anyone actually think the VA deserves bonuses for failing our 
veterans when we have these long lists of people waiting for medical 
care, having their claims serviced? No, I think not. Mr. Speaker, the 
VA bonus bucks stop here.

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