U.S. Senators Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) are coming together to push for the United States Department of Justice to address recent revelations that veterans have died after being placed on secret waiting lists at VA hospitals.
A recent report by The Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general’s office confirmed that VA hospitals concealed treatment delays for veterans and “boosted performance measures that help determine whether bonuses are deserved.” In total, the report found that 1,700 veterans using the VA hospital in Phoenix were placed on secret wait lists.
The Obama Administration is also looking into the matter and earlier this week announced that veterans will be allowed to seek care at private hospitals in an effort to relieve some of the pressure on backlogged VA facilities.
But Sen. Shelby believes the issues at the VA are serious enough and of such magnitude that the Department of Justice and FBI need to get involved and launch criminal and civil investigations into the allegations.
Sens. Shelby and Mikulski, who are Vice Chair and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, plan to insert language into a bill funding the departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies that will make it clear that ample resources are available to the DoJ and FBI to conduct a serious investigation into the VA.
“These allegations are deeply troubling,” Sen. Shelby told Yellowhammer today. “The victims, their families, and the American people deserve answers and accountability. I’m pleased to work with Chairman Mikulski to ensure that the Department of Justice has the full resources to do just that.”
During an Appropriations Committee hearing last week to mark up a bill funding all programs under the Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ jurisdiction, Shelby slammed the Obama Administration for ignoring multiple signs of veterans abuse. The committee appropriated $5 million in additional funding for the VA’s Inspector General to investigate what happened with veterans being denied benefits. But Shelby was already working behind the scenes to escalate the investigation to include the Department of Justice.
“While I commend the Committee’s support for an additional $5 million in funding to the Office of the Inspector General to investigate the VA’s scheduling practices, I also recognize that this is just a starting point,” Shelby said at the time.
Today’s move by Shelby and Mikulski is the next step.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.