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WASHINGTON—This afternoon, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)—joined by House Republicans and House Democrats who serve on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee—signed major bipartisan VA reform legislation. The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act is a direct response to the VA scandals of the last three years. It now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.
At today’s signing, Ryan was flanked by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (R-TN), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA).
Speaker Ryan said: “I want to thank the members of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee for bringing this very important legislation through. We all saw the scandals at the VA. We need to make sure something like this never happens again, and that the veterans get the care and treatment that they deserve, that they have earned.”
Chairman Roe said: “I think it’s one of the most important pieces of legislation that we’ve passed as far as reforming the VA since we’ve been here.”
Ranking Member Walz said: “You see standing behind us the bipartisan members of the VA Committee. We pride ourselves on being a committee that focuses on delivering for our veterans.”
Chairman Isakson said: “We formed a team that finally realized we needed to do what was right for our veterans, and right for our country.”
