Media
House Overwhelming Passes VA Management Accountability Act
Washington DC (May 21, 2014) – The VA Management Accountability Act, HR 4031, passed overwhelmingly in the House today by a vote of 390-33. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) supported HR 4031. The passage comes after a tense week for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following Secretary Shinseki’s hearing last Thursday and President Obama’s statement on the VA this morning. The Senate still needs to pass the legislation.
Today, IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff offered the following statement:
“The growing, bipartisan outrage over mismanagement and cover-up in the VA system must translate to real action and real reform. Today’s disappointing statement from the President – where he failed to provide decisive leadership and announce any new significant actions – makes it even more critical that Congress step up. IAVA is proud to stand with Speaker Boehner, Chairman Miller and all those who support the VA Management Accountability Act to ensure that a culture of real accountability exists within the highest levels of VA leadership,” said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff.
Last week, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) announced they are joining together to protect VA staff who come forward with information about agency wrongdoing.
As part of the effort, the organizations have launched a secure website,www.VAOversight.org, where VA employees can get in touch with POGO and IAVA. The effort combines IAVA’s deep knowledge of the VA system with POGO’s experience working with whistleblowers to expose federal wrongdoing.