Congressman Pappas Issues Statement on Alleged Whistle Blower Retaliation at the White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Manchester, N.H.- Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs, released the following statement in response to the Boston Globe publishing a new story about a VA whistleblower:

"Whistleblowers help shine a spotlight on deficiencies, fraud, and abuse at the VA and allow us to better serve veterans. Unfortunately, too many whistleblowers have been silenced, dismissed, and retaliated against by the VA. Today's alarming news about such an example at the White River Junction VAMC underscores the need to look closer at whistleblower protections and the effectiveness of the recently created Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP). I will continue to closely examine these issues in my capacity as chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and will work with both VA leadership and whistleblowers alike to take any necessary action.

People coming forward with valuable information—sometimes at great professional risk—are performing an important public service. Whistleblowers must be listened to so we can fulfill our mission to better serve our nation's veterans. I strongly encourage any VA employee who has serious concerns at the VA to reach out to my office."

Last week, Congressman Pappas held a hearing examining the VA's failure to protect whistleblowers from undue retaliation. This preceded a full Committee Hearing to assess the VA's "secret wait lists" on the fifth anniversary of the Phoenix VA wait time scandal.