Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, along with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and 14 other Senate colleagues, has called for increased accountability from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following a significant budget discrepancy earlier this year. The senators addressed a letter to Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, urging him to include the Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act or similar legislation in any committee advancements.

The PRO Vets Act aims to enhance oversight by requiring the VA to submit quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress over three years. It also proposes withholding bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget personnel if financial shortfalls occur.

"Just a few short months ago, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notified Committee members of a looming $3 billion shortfall that would prevent the Department from delivering benefit payments to veterans and their dependents by October 1, 2024, unless Congress provided the Department with an emergency supplemental appropriation," stated the senators. "Now, we have learned that the alleged $2.883 billion shortfall did not exist. In fact, the VA ended Fiscal Year 2024 with a $5.1 billion surplus."

The letter was signed by Senators Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Ted Budd, Bill Cassidy, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Chuck Grassley, Roger Marshall, Lisa Murkowski, and Pete Ricketts.

In September's House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs oversight hearing titled “Accountable or Absent?: Examining VA Leadership Under the Eiden-Harris Administration,” the VA Office of Inspector General testified about pervasive accountability issues within the VA. The report highlighted problems at facilities in Hampton and Aurora but indicated broader systemic issues within the department.

"We recognize that there are many excellent VA employees," acknowledged the senators in their letter. "However... it is clear that there are systemic issues severely undermining the VA’s ability to deliver consistent high-quality and timely results for veterans."

The proposed PRO for Veterans Act seeks to improve transparency by mandating regular budget briefings from VA leadership to congressional committees. It also restricts bonuses during financial mismanagement periods.

Senator Tuberville has been actively involved in addressing these concerns through hearings and communications with Chairman Tester.