[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 99 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE ``VACANT VA'' IS AN INSULT TO OUR HEROES

  (Ms. BROWNLEY of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am 
deeply concerned that the Department of Veterans Affairs is missing 
nearly a dozen key, very important leaders, which is a grave disservice 
to our Nation's veterans.
  It has been 4 weeks since the President announced his latest VA 
Secretary nominee, but he has yet to formally submit the nomination to 
the Senate. The VA has been without a permanent Under Secretary for 
Health since February of 2017, and there are at least nine Deputy Under 
Secretaries and Assistant Deputy Secretary positions without a 
permanent appointee.
  Without strong, steady leadership, how will the VA provide the best 
healthcare and timely benefits our Nation's veterans deserve?
  The President must take responsibility for these failures of 
leadership and immediately prioritize identifying, properly vetting, 
and appointing the qualified leaders the VA needs because this ``vacant 
VA'' is an insult to our heroes.

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