Press Releases

Today, Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after VA Secretary David Shulkin announced the delayed firing of a VA employee in Houston who was caught watching pornography while treating a veteran patient: "The time for talking about accountability is over. This situation underscores the need for Congress to get VA accountability legislation to President… Read more »

Subcommittee on Health Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) introduced legislation to prohibit smoking in any Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility. Under this legislation, smoking would be banned inside VHA facilities immediately and outside VHA facilities within five years. “Exposure to secondhand smoke puts veteran patients at unnecessary risk. This common sense reform mitigates… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement in response to the newly released Office of Inspector General (OIG) report revealing continued failures of the Veterans Crisis Line: "It's unacceptable that the issues with the Veterans Crisis Line have still not been addressed, and I hope Secretary Shulkin will take immediate… Read more »

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1367, legislation to improve VA’s ability to recruit and retain high-quality health care providers and other professionals: “Providing the top-notch health care and benefits our nation’s veterans deserve is impossible without a strong… Read more »

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act: “I strongly believe we must do everything in our power to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans, especially the men and women who have served, by the Constitution. The Veterans 2nd Amendment… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the VA Accountability First Act of 2017 with bipartisan support: “The VA Accountability First Act will provide Secretary Shulkin the tools he needs to swiftly discipline employees who fail in their mission to provide world-class health… Read more »

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Chairmen Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Jack Bergman (R-MI), along with Ranking Members Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Ann Kuster (D-NH) released the following statements following introduction of the VA Prescription Drug Accountability Act: “Keeping pressure on the VA when it comes to combating the national prescription drug abuse epidemic… Read more »

Today, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) introduced the Veterans, Employees and Taxpayer (VET) Protection Act. This bill would require VA to track the use of official time and prohibit employees involved with direct patient care from spending more than 25% of their time on union activities and any VA employee from spending more than 50% of their… Read more »

Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed five pieces of legislation: “Whether it’s creating a culture of accountability at VA, expanding access to quality care or protecting the rights entrusted to our nation’s heroes, these bills will improve the lives of America’s veterans and build a better VA. I am… Read more »

Today, Reps. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) released the following statements after Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Shulkin’s announcement of his intention to expand mental health care services to veterans with other-than-honorable discharges: “I take the health and well-being of every man and… Read more »