[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4856]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             BACKLOG AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  (Mr. BOEHNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I know that the House shares 
my deep concern over the backlog of benefit claims at the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  It is nothing short of a black eye for our government. This country 
has made promises that it is our duty to keep, and the House has acted 
to tackle this problem.
  Even so, reform won't get very far if it is carried out by managers 
who have proven that they are not up to the job. So we recently 
introduced H.R. 4031, the VA Management Accountability Act. This 
measure gives the VA Secretary the authority to fire and demote 
officials who aren't performing.
  The principle here is simple. When you are not getting the job done, 
you have got to go. At the VA, it has been quite the opposite. For all 
the incompetence we have seen and all the lives that have been lost, 
the evidence shows there has been no accountability. Only half-measures 
and little slaps on the wrist.
  At any agency that has fallen down on the job this would be 
unacceptable. But to have it happen in the health care system for 
America's veterans? I think it is shameful.
  The VA is failing our veterans and their families. It is time we hold 
these people accountable and get people in there who can fix this 
backlog once and for all.
  I am going to applaud Chairman Miller and the Veterans Affairs' 
Committee for their leadership. I am pleased this legislation has 
already picked up the support of several veterans' organizations. I 
would urge all of my colleagues to back this critical measure.

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