Corker Statement on Secretary Shenseki’s Resignation

U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) released the following statement today regarding the resignation of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki.

“I appreciate Secretary Shinseki’s military and public service to our country, and while a change in leadership was necessary the problems run much deeper than one person,” said Corker. “The administration must work with Congress to solve the chronic, systemic problems that exist within the VA so that our nation’s veterans can receive the quality and timely care they deserve.”

Corker and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) recently wrote to Sec. Shinseki calling on the VA to conduct a “thorough, open and transparent” audit following reports of neglect at some medical facilities, including allegations that up to 40 patients may have died because of delayed care at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. The senators urged the department to consider using a third-party auditor to ensure the review “is independent and transparent,” and also asked the VA to provide specific information regarding the average time Tennessee veterans are waiting for care at VA facilities.

The senators also wrote to Under Secretary Petzel, who has since resigned, requesting an update on the implementation of recommendations made in an October 2013 VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report entitled “Healthcare Inspection Emergency Department Patient Deaths Memphis VA Medical Center (MVAMC) Memphis, Tennessee.”

Last week, Corker and Alexander joined 23 of their Senate Republican colleagues in requesting an immediate Senate investigation “into reported mismanagement, incompetence, and corruption” within the VA health care centers throughout the country.