U.S. Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, applauded yesterday’s passage of the bipartisan VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016. This important legislation would increase accountability for VA employees responsible for mismanagement or poor performance at VA facilities. It would also address the benefit appeals wait time which can currently be up to five years. Appeals reform provides veterans more options to expedite their appeal including a process developed by the group Disabled American Veterans. Additionally, the bill includes an amendment that would improve access to recreational equipment for disabled veterans.

“The fact of the matter is the status quo at the Department of Veterans Affairs is not acceptable,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “We’ve made significant progress in addressing the issues that plagued care for our veterans within the VA, but there is much more to be done. This is an important step toward ensuring that those who are to blame for problems within the VA are held responsible.”

The legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fire, remove, or demote VA employees for performance of misconduct. It would also allow the secretary to reduce benefits of Senior Executive Service employees convicted of a crime and recoup bonuses paid to VA employees if deemed appropriate. Importantly, the legislation also puts in place special protections for whistleblowers to ensure their willingness to raise concerns about mismanagement at the VA.

Congresswoman Kuster has served on the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee since taking office in 2013, and she helped oversee the investigation into the mismanagement scandals at the VA in 2014. As a result of her leadership on veterans’ issues, Kuster was selected last year to serve as the Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee.  As Ranking Member, she pushes for increased transparency at the VA and helps to lead the charge in Washington on the need to improve access to care for veterans across the country. The daughter of a WWII veteran, Congresswoman Kuster has long advocated for the needs of New Hampshire veterans, and she frequently holds veteran roundtables, forums, and job fairs for Granite State veterans across the district.

###