A Critical Moment for the Department of Veterans Affairs

Congressman Lamborn shares his vision for the next Congress and legislation to provide for veterans and military families.

This month, we remember and honor our veterans who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms. As a senior member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I want to take this opportunity to recognize the strides that the VA has made over the past few years, and identify my vision for where the VA needs to go to improve services for our service members into the future.

The VA does some things well, but is still plagued by problems. While all government corruption and waste harms our nation and destroys the trust of taxpayers, the VA’s problems are particularly troubling because they also impact the everyday lives of our veterans, the brave men and women who sacrifice to defend American ideals. The VA is now at a critical moment that will define their ability to serve our veterans for the next decade.

Where We Are

During my tenure in Congress, we have increased expenditures for the VA. In 2014, we succeeded in passing the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability act, which continues to provide high-quality healthcare for veterans outside the VA system. We have implemented strong oversight, suggested reforms to hold bad actors accountable, protect whistleblowers, and minimize waste, fraud, and abuse within the VA.

A Critical Juncture for Healthcare

However, more needs to be done to continue meaningful reforms and give veterans access to high-quality healthcare when they need it. The CHOICE program, supported by a bipartisan coalition and praised by many veterans in my district, expires in August of 2017. If we want to act in veterans’ best interest, if we want to empower veterans to control their healthcare choices like we do for Medicare, we must act now.

We also should encourage the VA to focus on core competencies and recognize what the private sector can offer to supplement. The VA has expertise in rehabilitation, prosthetics, post-traumatic stress therapies, and other soldier-related needs. But the private sector offers better care in the fields of audiology and optometry. Veterans should always have access to private care in these areas from the onset — not just after they have waited 30 days for VA care. Our veterans have earned the right to choose the best healthcare for their needs, and lawmakers should continue to make CHOICE a priority in the 115th Congress.

A Critical Moment for Oversight

Beyond healthcare, the VA also needs to improve existing services. Members of the VA committee need to make sure that VA healthcare doesn’t overshadow other dire needs that impact veterans’ everyday lives. Though only 27% use VHA, the majority of veterans still rely on the VA for housing loans, the GI bill, life insurance, employment training, and disability benefits.

Looking forward, the VA needs to increase the number of appraisers for homes. This shortage presents a huge problem for military families looking to settle down. The VA is also woefully behind in its use of technology, and it is the patients who suffer from the lack of technology and poor communications.

More emphasis should also be placed on issues facing service members as they return to civilian life. I envision reforms that include a fully interoperable system between DoD and VA so that returning service members can enjoy a more seamless transition — not miles and miles of red tape and paperwork.

In all areas, Congress needs to continue to hold the VA accountable. When corrupt officials keep their six-figure bonuses, when VA leadership refuses to implement suggested reforms, when hundreds of veterans die waiting for urgent healthcare needs, when the VA refuses to be transparent with the public, the moment for talking points has passed. Our veterans deserve rigorous accountability measures and immediate results. Only a legislative branch that is vigilant in their duties to keep promises made to veterans can accomplish that in the years to come.

Congressman Doug Lamborn represents Colorado’s fifth district, a region with one of the largest populations of veterans and service members in the country. For more information on his legislative efforts to promote veterans’ interests, visit his Veterans page on his official website.