Rep. Ron Kind Calls for Blue Ribbon Commission to Investigate Care Delivery at Department of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) is calling for the creation of a Blue Ribbon commission to improve care delivery at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and investigate allegations that some VA personnel covered up long wait times for veterans seeking care.

“Long wait times for care can never be the norm for our veterans. And if any efforts were made to conceal the extent of the problem, those responsible need to be held accountable immediately,” said Rep. Kind.  “Forming an independent, bipartisan commission would bring needed urgency to this problem. Leaders with military backgrounds and firsthand experience working with veterans and their families, such as General Colin Powell and former Senators Bob Dole, Jim Webb and Max Cleland would be ideal choices to lead this effort. The VA was right to launch an audit of its own services, but much more needs to be done.”

Rep. Kind is taking additional proactive steps to address potential problems at the VA. He and his staff are reaching out to VA personnel across the state in an effort to identify any issues that care providers or veterans may be experiencing. Additionally, Rep. Kind voted for the VA Management Accountability Act of 2014 which makes it easier for the department secretary to fire senior officials for poor performance.

General Colin Powellis a retired four-star Army General who served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush; former Senator Bob Dole served in the Army in WWII and was a Republican U.S. Senator from Kansas; former Senator Jim Webb fought in the Marines during the Vietnam War, and later served as Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan Administration before becoming a Democratic U.S. Senator from Virginia; former Senator Max Cleland fought in the Army during the Vietnam War, later leading the VA during the Carter Administration before serving as a Democratic U.S. Senator from Georgia.