Press Releases

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the Committee’s legislative hearing with external stakeholders on 10 House Republican bills included in the Committee’s reauthorization initiative to update expired authorities, strengthen oversight, modernize the delivery of healthcare, benefits, research, and improve infrastructure for veterans  — many of these areas of VA have not been comprehensively reviewed in decades. To read more about the three series of bills the Chairman and House Republicans are leading as part of the Committee’s reauthorization strategy, click here (first series), here (second series), and here (third series). In March, Chairman Bost wrote on op-ed for the Washington Examiner about the Committee’s VA reauthorization plans. Read the op-ed here.

Good morning.

The Committee will come to order.

Without objection, the Chair may declare a recess at any time.

Today’s hearing is a continuation of this Committee’s reauthorization initiative to make V.A. accountable to Congress, taxpayers, and our veterans.

For too long, Congress has relied almost entirely on appropriations while neglecting regular reauthorization and oversight of V.A. programs and authorities.

That weakens accountability.

It weakens Congress.

As some of the witnesses on this panel will soon highlight, Congress has continued to appropriate funds for unauthorized V.A. programs without updating the underlying statutes.

To put this in perspective, some of these programs have not been closely reviewed since before the Global War on Terror began.

An entire generation went to war, came home, raised families, and entered the V.A. system before Congress seriously updated many of the laws governing that system.

And what have they found?

Too often, they have found a V.A. that is larger, better funded, and more powerful than ever before.

However, they have also found that V.A. is still too slow, bureaucratic, inconsistent, and detached from those it was created to serve.

Our veterans continue to tell us the same thing.

They are frustrated with the bureaucracy.

They are frustrated with the delays.

They are frustrated and tired of feeling like the system is built to protect itself, instead of serving them.

That should trouble every Member of this Committee.

Because V.A. is supposed to be a reflection of the people it serves our veterans.

It should reflect their urgency, their discipline, their accountability, and their mission-first mindset.

But when an entire generation passes through the system, and Congress cannot meaningfully update the laws governing that system to reflect today’s veterans, the outcomes remain stagnant.

Veterans are left dismayed.

Congress is left dismayed.

And taxpayers are left asking a fair question: if V.A. keeps getting more money every year, why are not veterans consistently getting better results?

Let me be clear: benefits are meaningful.

Appropriately funding the V.A. is meaningful.

But outcomes are meaningful too.

And by that measure, V.A. has not earned a passing grade.

Over the last 30 years, V.A. has grown dramatically in both budget and workforce.

Congress has provided more resources year after year.

But veteran suicide remains a persistent crisis.

VA is not consistently on the cutting edge of research and innovation like they used to be.

V.A. still struggles to build major infrastructure projects meant to serve veterans on time and on budget.

And every oversight arm at Congress’s disposal—including V.A. O.I.G. and G.A.O.—continues to identify serious risks of fraud, waste, mismanagement, and abuse.

That is not because V.A.’s programs are inherently without value. Many of them are deeply important.

It is because Congress and V.A. leadership have allowed too many of these programs to drift from congressional intent and operate without the accountability veterans deserve.

V.A. continues to come before Congress asking for more money and more trust.

As veterans, we understand something simple: trust is earned.

And if V.A. wants the trust of veterans and the American people, it’s about time it shows some real results.

The bills before us are focused on updating and reauthorizing key V.A. programs, so we can restore accountability, transparency, consistency, and results across the Department.

Do not get me wrong: I want V.A. to succeed. More than anyone, I want this Department to work.

I want it to be worthy of the veterans who walk through its doors.

 I want it to deliver care, benefits, research, housing, and opportunity with the urgency and excellence our veterans have earned.

But building a strong house requires a strong foundation.

And the foundations underneath V.A. are old, weakened, and in desperate need of repair.

That is what today is about: repairing the foundation, restoring the mission, and making sure V.A. is once again built around the veterans it exists to serve.

Because reauthorization is not only common sense, but it is Congress’s constitutional duty to taxpayers and veterans.

With that, I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before the Committee, and I look forward to today’s discussion. 

Ranking Member Takano, you are recognized for your opening statement.