AFGE Thanks Senator Sanders for Securing Emergency Funding for VA's Staffing Emergency

Largest VA Union Urges Lawmakers to Further Build VA's In-House Capacity and Closely Monitor "Veterans' Card" Pilot Program

News provided by

American Federation of Government Employees

Jul 29, 2014, 10:33 ET

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senator Bernie Sanders, Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, achieved a great victory for veterans today in a compromise that provides supplemental funding to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) exemplary and cost effective health care system. The compromise reached by the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committee leadership is a critical step toward getting the VA back on track so veterans do not have to wait for care.

Through Chairman Sanders' unwavering efforts to fight for a stronger VA health care system, new hiring can begin to address chronic short staffing of doctors, nurses and support personnel. This will assist in getting veterans in the door to receive the top notch care they have earned -- care that veterans regularly choose over the option of going outside the VA. Inadequate staffing has been widely shown to be the root cause of the unacceptable delays and wait list manipulation. AFGE also commends the Chairman for securing additional funding for new facility leases, treatment of traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma, and improved educational benefits.

"AFGE thanks Sen. Sanders for pushing back against massive offsets to pay for this essential increase in funding. While we await further details about the partial offset included in the compromise, we urge lawmakers to ensure that all VA services are adequately funded over the long haul. As Chairman Sanders reminded us, this legislation is the beginning, not the end of a long overdue effort to make the VA strong again and address the true cost of war," said AFGE President J. David Cox Sr. "An emergency for our veterans called for emergency funding, and Sen. Sanders delivered for them."

Recent Congressional hearings have revealed that contractors seeking to provide more non-VA care are already falling short in terms of attracting sufficient providers. AFGE is actively engaged at the national and local levels to support the efforts of Congress and the Department to increase in-house access and productivity at medical centers across the country. AFGE members on the front lines dedicate themselves every day to serving veterans by providing medical care, arranging appointments and keeping VA facilities safe and clean. They understand best the long term ways to overhaul the VA health care system, including streamlining hiring, reducing turnover of highly experienced personnel, extending evening and Saturday clinic hours, reallocation of management personnel, and other productivity strategies. Other measures to strengthen the VA's in-house capacity, such as new scheduling systems and regular audits of staffing levels and accuracy of care are part of the real solution veterans need in the long run, not a voucher.

"Sen. Sanders kept fighting for the right fix. We are very pleased that he overcame forces that do not want to give one more dollar to solve VA's staffing crisis, but can't wait to throw more money at high priced contractors in order to voucher out the entire VA health care systems," said Cox. "Non-VA care for the complex medical needs of our wounded warriors needs to be time limited and carefully coordinated with VA medical centers."

"The voices of the 220,000 VA employees represented by AFGE must continue to be heard if VA is going to make meaningful changes and remain on track," said AFGE National VA Council President Alma Lee. "As the nation moves into the next phase of VA reform, we must not forget the bravery of front-line employee whistleblowers who risked their careers to speak out for our heroes. Many have paid a very heavy price, including job loss and intense workplace harassment, for speaking up for veterans in the face of a pervasive culture of fear. We salute them."

Continued Lee:

"Due to many recent reports of safety problems at VA facilities, AFGE urges management to work together with us to address these concerns as part of the larger effort to overhaul the health care system."

"Although AFGE supports accountability for VA executives responsible for wait list manipulation, accountability does not require eliminating due process rights; we have all seen in recent months the culture of fear in the VA that intimidates and harms employees trying to speak up for veterans. Due process protects the innocent; we want to make sure we only punish the guilty," said Cox.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. AFGE's National Veterans Affairs Council represents 220,000 employees within the Department of Veterans Affairs. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees