The Department of Veterans Affairs has had more than its share of problems. In the eyes of many in the VA and in Congress, the way to fix those problems is to increase the VA’s budget. After all, more money means more opportunity to fix wait times, staff shortages and outdated equipment, right? Wrong. The… Read more »
Congress had an unexpected week off last week due to ceremonies and services for President George H. W. Bush. Thousands gathered in Washington to pay respects to the 41st president as he lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Votes and committee hearings were postponed, so members will have some time to make up as… Read more »
During his State of the Union address in 1990, President George H. W. Bush addressed Congress and the American people with a sense of hope. The Berlin Wall had been torn down a few months prior, and the Cold War was quickly ending. Freedom was gaining ground all over the world, especially in nations breaking… Read more »
The lame-duck session is in full swing, but politics in Washington will largely be put aside this week. On Saturday, President George H. W. Bush passed away at age 94. Bush spent the majority of his life serving the public — in the military, the House of Representatives, the United Nations, the Central Intelligence Agency… Read more »
November was busy month, packed full of news. Some great work was done at the VA to ensure doctors and medical staff are spending their time caring for veterans. Under a new Trump administration regulation, VA medical staff is no longer able to spend work hours on union activity. This move will let VA doctors… Read more »
In what was a surprise to no one, the Pentagon failed its first-ever comprehensive audit. It took nearly a year for more than 1,000 auditors to conduct dozens of separate audits on $2.7 trillion worth of Department of Defense assets. More than 600 locations were visited, more than 40,000 documents were requested, and more than 90,000 sample items were tested. In… Read more »
Recently, the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity met for a contentious hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ continued problems dispersing GI Bill benefits on time and in the right amounts. Since August, VA IT glitches and systems errors have resulted in miscalculated and delayed housing stipends for student veterans. These problems have… Read more »
