Press Release

Congressman Ami Bera recently joined several of his congressional colleagues urging VA Secretary Shinseki to audit VA hospitals across the country and share the full details of his audit. Read their letter.

Bera offered the following comment:

"As a doctor who has worked in the VA system, I'm alarmed by reports that veterans may have died waiting for care in Arizona. It's outrageous and unacceptable that people who have risked their lives for our country could be going without the medical care they need.

We must make sure this problem isn't widespread, and we must do a much better job of ensuring our heroes can access the health care and support services they have earned. I'm glad that Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has ordered a face-to-face audit at all VA clinics. This is an important first step, and we must get to the bottom of this issue as soon as possible so that all our heroes get the benefits and services they have earned."

Bera is the co-author the 21st Century Health Care for Heroes Act with Congressman Chris Gibson, and army veteran. Part of a bipartisan effort to construct a streamlined and easily accessibly electronic health record system for service members and veterans, this common-sense initiative will have the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs merge their electronic health records. It saves money, makes the transition to civilian life easier for vets, and help address the VA backlog.