WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today responded to the newly released report on alleged negligent behavior at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) medical center in Phoenix, Ariz. The VA Inspector General’s report released today revealed continued delays in the health system that may have contributed to the death of at least one Phoenix-area veteran.

“I’m alarmed and infuriated by reports from the inspector general’s office that reveal ongoing negligence at the Phoenix VA two years after the 2014 wait-time scandal,” said Isakson. “I can assure you that, as chairman, I will conduct the necessary oversight to get to the bottom of what appears to be continued failure by senior VA leadership that has led to veterans not receiving the care they need and deserve. In light of this report, I repeat my call to Secretary McDonald to immediately fill the dozens of vacant leadership positions in the Veterans Health Administration nationwide, including in Phoenix, to increase accountability and ensure the VA is equipped to adequately deliver health care to our veterans. Failure is not an option.”

In July 2015, Isakson called on VA Secretary Robert McDonald to immediately fill the 44 vacant leadership positions nationwide within the Veterans Health Administration, which is responsible for delivering health care to our veterans.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 114th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate VA Committee since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the military as well as more than 750,000 veterans.