Our veterans represent the best that this country has to offer, and they deserve to receive the benefits that they have earned once they return home. Sadly, however, the widespread inefficiency within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to fail the millions of Americans who rely on it.
Though Congress has increased funding for the VA in recent years, the agency’s responsiveness has not improved. According to the 2013 annual report from the VA, it took an average of 378 days for the department to process a claim to completion. The Cleveland, Ohio Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO), which serves veterans living in my district and throughout the region, is processing claims in an average of more than 250 days. On top of that, 14 percent of all finished claims are appealed, and this backlog is largely ignored. The current processing time for disability claims appeals is between five to ten years at the Cleveland regional office, leading many veterans to believe that they will never receive their benefits. This is completely unacceptable and it must be improved.
Veterans who depend on the VA have an expectation that senior leaders within the agency are accountable to them. However, it has become apparent that the senior officials who presided over negligence and mismanagement linked to VA preventable deaths, patient safety incidents, and backlog increases received a bonus or impressive performance review. Despite the fact that several VA Inspector General reports have connected patient care problems to pervasive mismanagement within VA facilities, and GAO findings that VA bonus pay has no clear link to performance, the department has consistently defended its bonuses and glowing performance reviews of senior executives who presided over these events.
One of my most important obligations as a Member of Congress is to stand up for those who have served our country, and it is time that we bring more accountability to the VA. I am a proud cosponsor of the VA Management Accountability Act, a bill that empowers the VA Secretary to demote or remove senior officials who are not doing their jobs. The ability to remove such an employee is modeled after the same authority that Members of Congress have to remove their professional staff members who work for them. This legislation will benefit the millions of veterans who depend on the VA for its services, the VA employees who deserve stronger leadership, and the taxpayers who fund these important programs. It’s a commonsense bill that should receive support from my friends on both sides of the aisle.
Our men and women in uniform should never have to worry about whether or not they will receive the care that they need once they return home or dread wading through the bureaucratic red tape that stands in their way. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki has promised to eliminate the backlog of disability claims, and the department has said that it is on track to meet its goal. My office works closely with Cleveland’s regional office and I am encouraged that its leadership has implemented several changes and reduced the number of pending claims. However, we can and we must do better. I appreciate the steps they have taken to improve their responsiveness and look forward to continue working with them to deliver the best service that our nation’s finest expect and deserve.