Pappas and Bergman Introduce the Reducing High Risk to Veterans Services Act

Washington, D.C.- Chairman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Ranking Member Jack Bergman (MI-01) of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs introduced the bipartisan Reducing High Risk to Veterans Services Act. This legislation seeks to improve management and better the quality of care within the Veterans Health Administration in order to remove it from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) "High Risk List" of federal government programs that are most susceptible to fraud, waste, or mismanagement.

"It is unacceptable that the health network responsible for providing care to more than 9 million of our nation's veterans has remained on the ‘high risk list' of federal agencies prone to waste and mismanagement," said Chairman Pappas. "We must ensure our government is always striving to take constructive steps to better serve our veterans. We made a solemn promise to veterans, and the Reducing High Risk to Veterans Services Act ensures the VA has the plan and tools required to deliver on that promise."

"I'm joining Chairman Pappas to introduce the Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act which will improve accountability and urgency within the VA - two principles essential to ensuring our Veterans are receiving the care and benefits they deserve. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations cannot be ignored, and – as the legislation specifies—we must address the "root causes" of systemic issues that arise," said Ranking Member Bergman.

As the largest health care system in our country, the Veterans Health Administration is responsible for serving 9 million veterans with an annual operating cost of more than $84.1 billion. Since 2010, GAO has made 343 recommendations related to VA health care, yet 125 recommendations remain open.

The Reducing High Risk to Veterans Services Act would require greater accountability and transparency by requiring the VA to:

• Establish a three-year plan for addressing the High-Risk List and submit it to Congress

• Provide semi-annual updates to Congress from the agency on the plan's progress

• Describe any needs for congressional action, such as specific funding or new legislative authority.