Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement today after President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki: “Secretary Shinseki is an American hero who courageously served his country in war, rose to be the Army chief of staff and has dedicated his distinguished career to helping his fellow soldiers and veterans. I am sad that he resigned.
“The unequivocal goal of the VA must be to provide the highest-quality health care possible to all of our veterans in a timely manner. The new leadership must transform the culture of the VA, establish accountability and punish those responsible for the reprehensible manipulation of wait times. As chairman of the Senate veterans’ committee I look forward to working with President Obama, the new VA leadership and my Senate colleagues to make that happen.”
Sanders supported Shinseki in recent days even as pressure mounted over profound problems at some VA hospitals.
Senator Patrick Leahy also issued a statement:
"With the resignation of Secretary Shinseki, it is time for deep soul-searching at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Secretary Shinseki is himself a disabled veteran, an experienced leader and an ardent patriot. He oversaw some notable achievements during his tenure that are benefitting veterans. But the fact that he was unable to lead the VA to a place where it can routinely provide the quality, timely care our veterans earned should be deeply troubling to all of us. Systemic reforms, sufficient resources and insistence on accountability will be needed, and promptly. I call on the President to make reform of the VA a centerpiece of his remaining time in office. The many good men and women working in the VA need to become forces of renewal to overcome these challenges. And Congress must pay ongoing attention to this appalling situation to provide the real and ongoing oversight, lawmaking, and funding needed to achieve where we have previously failed.
"When members of Congress cast votes to send our men and women into harm’s way, we are all responsible for treating the visible and invisible wounds they suffer. Let us accompany this change in leadership with a change in perspective here in the Senate, and devote the bipartisan care and attention to fulfillment of that responsibility that our veterans deserve."
The then new VA secretary, Shinseki delivered the address to graduates at the 2010 University of Vermont commencement ceremony.
STORY:
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki resigns - CNN.com
Washington (CNN) -- In the end, even Eric Shinseki knew he had to go, President Barack Obama said Friday in announcing the resignation of his only Veterans Affairs secretary over a growing scandal involving sometimes deadly waits for care at VA hospitals.
BURLINGTON, Vt., May 30, 2014