Amodei criticizes administration's Ôgo-it-alone' approach to VA problems

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Baluta, 202-225-6155

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) Thursday directed sharp criticism at the Obama administration’s “go-it-alone” response to the growing scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The charges stemmed from when his staff sought to follow up on a statement by the VA Inspector General’s (IG) office that the number of facilities under investigation for complaints about falsified records and treatment delays had more than doubled in the past week from 10 to 26 nationwide.

When Amodei’s staff inquired if facilities in Nevada were among the 26 under investigation, the response from the VA IG’s office was curt and without further explanation. “We are not releasing the list of facilities. Nor commenting on the states,” said the OIG congressional relations officer.

Amodei released the following statement:

“The problems at the VA require nonpartisan solutions involving the executive and legislative branches, yet the administration continues with this go-it-alone approach that contributed to this mess in the first place. I have no desire to interfere with an investigation, but when I cannot get answers to the most basic questions on behalf of my constituents in Nevada, it is disturbing.

“How are the people’s representatives supposed to perform fundamental oversight when attempts to ascertain and monitor the extent of the problem are casually dismissed by someone whose sole job is congressional relations?

“I have no doubt that it has been a busy week for the OIG, but the disdain exhibited by this unhelpful response implies a lack of respect for the veterans of Nevada and their elected representative. Furthermore, such opaqueness is unseemly when the problem in question involves systematic attempts to hide treatment delays at the VA.

“When the President addressed the VFW conference in Reno in 2012, he said he has upheld a ‘sacred trust’ with the nation's veterans, telling them ‘I've got your back.’ If this is what it’s like when he’s got your back, I would hate to see the front.

“My staff and I will continue to conduct our duties to obtain answers from the VA and to ensure that our veterans get the treatment they earned, need and deserve. Mr. President and Secretary Shinseki, I urge you both to join me in those efforts at your earliest convenience.”

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