Senator Burr Releases an Open Letter to America’s Veterans

Over the course of the last few weeks, there has been a great deal of media coverage—rightly so—of the still-unfolding story coming out of the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding secret wait lists and other problems related to appointment scheduling at VA facilities. Last week, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs heard from Secretary Shinseki, representatives of some of the Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), and others.

While a great deal of the media coverage of the hearing has focused on what Secretary Shinseki said, and didn't say, much less has been seen of the testimony of the VSOs that testified. I wanted to take a brief moment to comment on that testimony.

First and foremost, I must recognize and commend the American Legion, National Commander Dan Dellinger, and the American Legion team for taking a principled stand, before the hearing and during it, and calling for leadership change at the VA. It is clear that the Legion has been listening to its membership about the challenges they face in gaining access to care, and has reached the conclusion that "enough is enough" and the status quo is indefensible. The Legion's membership has much to be proud of with the organization they support.

Regrettably, the Legion was alone among the VSOs that testified in taking such a stand. It became clear at the hearing that most of the other VSOs attending appear to be more interested in defending the status quo within VA, protecting their relationships within the agency, and securing their access to the Secretary and his inner circle. But to what end? What use is their access to senior VA staff, up to and including the Secretary, if they do not use their unprecedented access to a Cabinet Secretary to secure timely access to care for their membership? What hope is there for change within the VA if those closest to the agency don't use that proximity for the good of veterans across our country?

I believe the national and local commanders of every VSO have the interests of their members at heart, and take seriously their commitment to their members and their organization. Unfortunately, I no longer believe that to be the case within the Washington executive staff of the VSOs that testified. Last week’s hearing made it clear to me that the staff has ignored the constant VA problems expressed by their members and is more interested in their own livelihoods and Washington connections than they are to the needs of their own members.

I fear that change within the VA will not be possible unless and until these organizations also reconsider their role as well as the nature of their relationship with VA.

I have been a member of Keystone Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America for several years and have visited Washington DC 3 times in the past 5 years, talking with my Representatives and Senators about the TOP HEAVY ADMINISTRATION that exists within the VA. It has turned into a "jobs program" for the Federal Government - handing out 6-figure paychecks to Union workers in exchange for [political favors.

Now here is a Republican Senator that's inside the "SYSTEM" who wants to blame VSO's for the failing of the VA.

Sorry, but when Obama and Shinseki act like they didn't know about any problems until they heard it on the news?!?!?

They're either lying or inept - and either is in excusable!

I think the senator's issue is that he is going for Shinseki's head and with the exception of the American Legion, the rest say they are okay with his leadership.

What we basically have in the VA is bureaucratic behemoth, that does a poor job providing some of its primary functions. I don't think you will succeed in reforming that agency through massive firings, but they need to clean house of anybody that was involved in this scandal, replace all the upper level management, and put people in there that can get the job done. There must be some retired military hospital COs that can be approached to take over some of these facilities. Something radical needs to be done to overcome the inertia (body at rest) of the organization.

In all of this it may be time to remember that Shinseki sucked as the Army Chief of Staff. His performance here is no surprise.

Senator Burr has known about these problems for years and has not demanded action. Now he wants a political show. Where was he 4 years ago when he took over as ranking member?

I’m watching to see who Shinseki fires now that Obama gave him the “power” to fire VA employees.

I suspect the unions that control the VA will not take it lightly.

More than likely it’s just for show. In the end, Dems will blame Bush and Pubs will go through the motions with hearings.

I think organizations like yours will play a bigger part in caring for our busted up kids than the VA. They need to talk to people that have been in their position. God Bless.

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