MARIETTA, Ga. – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today released the following statement in response to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) detailing VA Secretary David Shulkin’s inability to swiftly discipline employees found guilty of severe wrongdoing due to its current bureaucratic accountability regulations:

“I completely agree with Secretary Shulkin that 30 days is far too long a time to wait to remove an employee found guilty of misconduct. This case is exactly why we need to put in place accountability measures that give Secretary Shulkin the tools to remove bad actors in a more timely and efficient manner. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to pass legislation to accomplish this goal. Our veterans deserve better." 

###

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th 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 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 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.