Following recent allegations of gross abuse of the public trust at the Department of Veterans Affairs that may have contributed to the deaths of 40 veterans, U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released a video statement demanding action for Illinois veterans whose healthcare needs may have been neglected or ignored by Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in suburban Chicago orbroader Veterans Administration. Rep. Hultgren encouraged veterans in the 14th District to contact his Geneva district office for assistance in dealing with the VA and receiving proper care.
WATCH: http://youtu.be/lC6Mb1STVTg
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This week, Rep. Hultgren supported passage of H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014, which authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to quickly remove senior executives if poor performance warrants it. The bill passed the House with a vote of 390-33.
Previously, Rep. Hultgren cosponsored H.R. 241, the Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act, to ensure veterans can get access to care within 30 days of original contact with the VA, as well as H.R. 2189 which would establish a task force to examine the backlog of disability claims at the VA.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Following are excerpts from the video:
“That the brave men and women who have served our country may have died because someone was safeguarding their Christmas bonus and angling for a promotion is outrageous and criminal. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there…Did Ms. Helman cultivate her disturbing practices at Hines hospital? Have Illinois veterans suffered as a result of her misdeeds?”
“The President is apparently ‘madder than hell’ over this scandal, but where does that leave our veterans who are waiting for care right now? We can’t keep kicking the can down the road—we need action now for our veterans on the waiting list…That’s why I want to hear from all of our veterans living in the 14th District.”
“Our nation's veterans…deserve the best health care our nation can provide them. When we as a nation fall short on that commitment, they deserve answers and an assurance that things will be made right…As we remember those who have fallen this Memorial Day, we should stop at nothing less.”
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