Dear Friends,
Yesterday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette featured a story about a 97-year-old World War II veteran who had his only source of income, his veterans pension, garnished because of an alleged default on a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan in North Carolina 20 years ago.
The problem is that the veteran, Mr. Jesse Whitley, had never lived in North Carolina, and the social security number of the person who actually did default on the home loan was clearly not the same as Mr. Whitley's. The garnishment of Mr. Whitley's pension was a demonstration of total incompetence on the part of VA, as was VA’s continued insistence even after Mr. Whitley presented them with conclusive evidence. It took my office one look at what he presented us to make the determination that he was not the person who defaulted on the loan.
Fortunately, in the case of Mr. Whitley, he knew he could reach out to my office and we could intervene on his behalf. The garnishment was quickly resolved and he was refunded in full by VA after they acknowledged their egregious error. This is another classic example of an agency that can't help but to mishandle the simplest of tasks.
It is situations like this, and situations like the data manipulation and subsequent deceit of federal prosecutors by Little Rock VAMC supervisors that have Arkansans calling for a culture change at VA. And last week in the House, we got the ball rolling on government accountability legislation that will create a dramatic change at VA.
H.R. 5620, the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 passed the House with an overwhelming bipartisan majority, and I was proud to have supported it.
This comprehensive accountability bill would allow the VA Secretary to swiftly and fairly remove employees who are harming veterans and hurting the credibility of VA, recoup bonuses and relocation expenses from failing employees, and reduce pensions of senior executives convicted of felonies that influenced their job performance.
The men and women like Mr. Whitley who have served this Nation honorably deserve better from their government, and this legislation is the blueprint for a competent and efficient VA.
The Senate and president now need to follow our lead by committing to these principles that will restore veterans’ trust in the institution that’s charged with delivering them the care and benefits they have earned.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill |
Photos for the Week
Rep. Hill with Pastor Philip Pointer of St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock. Pastor Pointer was in Washington this week to deliver the invocation in the House on Wednesday morning.
Rep. Hill and staff member Lesley Hill (pictured second from the left) visiting with Arkansans in Washington, D.C., to represent the ACS Cancer Action Network. |
|
|
|
|
|
Keeping GTMO Operational
This week, the House passed H.R. 5351, to prohibit the transfer of any individual detained at U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba.
On Wednesday, it was reported that two more prisoners released by the Obama Administration from GTMO have rejoined militant groups and are fighting against the United States, bringing to nine (9) the total of former GTMO prisoners rejoining militant groups after being released. After passage of the bill, Rep. Hill stated:
“GTMO offers our Nation a safe and secure facility for the custody of the worst perpetrators of terror. Last year, I visited this base and saw first-hand a state-of-the-art facility that enables the proper adjudication of its detainees. The president’s mission to close it down flies in the face of our national security interests, and I am glad the House has taken this bipartisan step to ensure this doesn’t happen during his presidency. The next commander-in-chief must work with Congress to better utilize GTMO so it can fulfill its purpose as an important strategic asset in the Global War on Terror.”
|
Hill Highlights Local Success in Addressing National Tragedy
On Tuesday, Rep. Hill delivered a speech on the House Floor about our Nation's tragic problem of veteran suicides. Every day, an average of 18-22 veterans take their own lives, and Congress, veterans groups, and mental health professionals are currently seeking answers on how to best address this issue.
Rep. Hill used the speech as an opportunity to highlight the good work being done in central Arkansas to address veterans mental health care.
In the speech, Rep. Hill stated:
"The Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, more commonly known as Fort Roots, located in North Little Rock, Arkansas, provides our local veterans with mental health care services that have received national attention, including on '60 Minutes', for their innovation and success with the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The management, doctors, and rank-and-file employees work tirelessly to give veterans suffering from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury a chance for rehabilitation."
Click the image below to watch the entire speech.
|
|
