Share Your Story: VA Healthcare

As the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant and a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I take very seriously my responsibility to represent the interest of those who have served our country in uniform. When it comes to our nation’s veterans, their commitment to country is without question, and our country’s commitment to them should be the same.

In recent months, widespread problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system have been exposed, including the systematic manipulation of data to hide detrimentally long wait times. This crisis has very real, and tragic, results. Multiple deaths have been attributed to these delays and as more whistleblowers come forward, we are starting to get a glimpse of just how many veterans have suffered as a result the negligence of certain VA employees. The FBI is investigating and will determine if the wrongdoings were more than mere negligence. If so, criminal charges must be brought against the responsible individuals.

We are working to address this crisis legislatively in Washington, with both the Senate and the House passing separate bills to reform and bring accountability to the VA medical system. The final product must restore faith in the VA health system, a commitment shared both by my colleagues in Washington and the leadership at the VA medical centers that serve Arkansas veterans. I am confident we can achieve this goal together.

As we work to find a compromise between the two bills in Congress, your experiences with VA healthcare can help Congress reform the system for our veterans. If you or a family member have received care at any VA medical facilities in Arkansas and have a story to share, I want to hear from you.

Your input, whether relaying a positive or negative experience, will help us more accurately understand the quality of care being provided in our VA facilities in Arkansas and can perhaps help bring positive change to the system nationwide.