Grassley, Sullivan Seek to Hold VA Accountable for $3 Billion Budget Shortfall

Grassley, Sullivan Seek to Hold VA Accountable for $3 Billion Budget Shortfall

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on a bill to hold the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) accountable for running a $3 billion deficit on its 2024 fund for administering veterans' benefits.

"The VA grossly mismanaged taxpayer dollars and put veterans' benefits at risk. We won't leave our nation's veterans in limbo, hard stop. The VA, on the other hand, has major explaining to do: Veterans, Congress and the public deserve answers to basic questions. Namely, what led to this egregious financial shortfall and how will the agency fix the mess it created," Grassley said. "Our legislation institutes needed accountability measures to prevent the VA from squandering taxpayer dollars intended to benefit those who've honorably served our nation."

"Telling Congress we have to provide $3 billion to the VA in a matter of days or our constituents won't get their benefits-without any accountability or reforms-is a shocking failure in leadership and management," Sullivan said. "It is incumbent upon the Secretary to appear before the committee and answer questions, but remarkably, he declined to do so. This is not a great victory as some are spinning it. The VA has a duty to provide congressional oversight committees with high-quality, in-person briefings explaining these shortfalls in the future-earlier than just a month in advance. In light of this budgetary fiasco and the millions of dollars' worth of bonuses improperly distributed to VA executives, I've put forward commonsense legislation to require the VA to abide by a basic level of accountability and oversight.

"Let me be clear: We will fund this shortfall. Our veterans deserve and rely upon their hard-earned benefits. But, going forward, our veterans also expect a much higher standard of accountability from VA leaders. I expect the Secretary and other VA leaders to come to the table with clear answers as to how these deficiencies keep happening and how they are going to prevent them in the future."

The Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act requires the VA for the next three years to submit quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress, fostering greater financial oversight. Certain senior personnel from the VA and Office of Management and Budget would not receive their bonuses in the event of additional financial shortfalls.

Joining Grassley and Sullivan are Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Download bill text HERE.

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