Miami, FL – Today Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) re-introduced the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act. If passed, the new bill would be an important first step toward ending the negligence and toxic culture at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act would make it easier to fire bad VA employees, cap bonuses for senior VA executives, reform the VA’s broken disability benefits appeals process, and strengthen whistleblower protections. Currently, it can often take over a year to fire a bad VA employee – including those who have engaged in criminal acts.
CVA supported the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act when it was first introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) last July.
Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) Florida Spokesman Diego Echeverri issued the following statement:
“If passed, Rubio’s VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act would help put an end to the horror stories we hear daily about VA negligence, incompetence, and corruption. CVA urges Congress to pass this bill immediately. Veterans’ lives are on the line.”
Sen. Rubio was a champion for VA reform before the national VA scandal broke and became public knowledge. He spearheaded VA accountability efforts with his introduction of the VA Management Accountability Act of 2014 and the VA Accountability Act of 2015.
Over two years ago, CVA launched the VA Accountability Project as an effort to hold the VA accountable for the wait times and inadequate care veterans suffer, as well as unethical behavior and misuse of resources as the VA.
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