Rep. Kind Votes to Protect Whistleblowers and Increase VA Accountability

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind voted for the bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. The bill takes action to implement needed changes at the VA, including providing more protection for whistleblowers and holding employees with poor performance accountable. 

“To ensure that our VA facilities are giving Wisconsin veterans the care they have earned and deserve it is critical that there is increased accountability and protections for whistleblowers. By taking this bipartisan action we are one step closer to making sure the problems that arose at the Tomah VA Medical Center and other VA facilities never happen again,” said Rep. Kind.  

The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act passed the both the House and Senate, so it now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 

Rep. Kind remains dedicated to making sure VA facilities are providing veterans with quality care. His bill, the Inspectors General Transparency Act of 2015, which took the first steps to increase transparency and accountability was signed into law. Additionally, he worked closely with the Simcakoski family to get a bill signed into law that gives veteran patients and their families have a real role in VA oversight and providing health care professionals better training on the negative effects of prescription painkillers.