Rep. Yoho Votes to Keep the VA Accountable

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL-03) voted in favor of H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act. The legislation provides the Secretary of Veterans Affairs flexibility to remove VA employees for performance or misconduct, adds protections for whistleblowers and increases accountability and performance measures for VA Senior Executive Service (SES) employees. Congressman Yoho issued the following statement in after his vote:

“The men and women who defend and have defended America deserve the very best care possible. The unacceptable VA backlog scandal last year was a black eye on the entire VA health system and a slap in the face to our nation’s veterans.

“If the system is experiencing mismanagement and misconduct of its employees, it is paramount that those issues be addressed and remedied promptly. Our veterans have sacrificed too much to endure a health system that is unresponsive and slow to correct its own problems.

“The passage of the VA Accountability Act will provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the tools needed to address misconduct of employees and mismanagement of individual facilities in an expedited manner. It will also provide security to those individuals who witness problem areas within the VA system and report it without fear of losing their job.

”This is a good bill that will improve the health system that cares for the brave men and women who have defended our nation’s freedom at home and abroad. God bless our veterans.”

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Congressman Ted Yoho serves on the Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Committees. He represents North Florida’s 3rd Congressional District