H.R. 4031 – Department of Veteran Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014:  This bill arose after the 2014 scandal where veterans died because of waiting lists which were hidden from by senior officials at the VA. This bill would allow the VA secretary to remove the individual from Federal service; or (2) transfer the individual to a General Schedule position at any grade of the General Schedule the Secretary determines appropriate.

H.R. 4810 – Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014:  Congressman Miller also sponsored this bill which would allow the VA secretary to enter into contracts with non-VA facilities to provide necessary care and medical services to limit the wait time and inconvenience of distance to eligible veterans.

H.R. 2189:  This bill creates a task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims and analyze potential improvements to submit to the secretary, requiring the implementation of solutions deemed appropriate by the secretary and to submit justification to Congress on those not implemented.

These are just a few of the bills that Congressman Miller has sponsored for the improvement of the lives of veterans in this country. He has come out recently lambasting the VA, stating its officials are “hiding behind a litany of excuses” in an August Op-Ed for InsideSources. He went on to say VA officials “haven’t learned much from the wait-time scandal that shook VA to its foundations and forced the resignation of former Secretary Eric Shinseki”.

Obviously, the post for VA secretary has not officially been filled yet but it would appear that Congressman Jeff Miller would be a good fit and might even enact the changes this government agency and veterans so desperately need. These changes will take time and real political and administrative muscle. The millions of veterans who have served faithfully deserve the effort. Let’s hope Congressman Miller is granted the time and more importantly the congressional support to ensure this overhaul takes shape. If not, Congressman Miller will be sacrificed on the VA altar while the American veteran remains a pawn in the ongoing political posturing in the Beltway. Let’s hope president-elect Trump plans real change where it counts for these men and women and not just more partisan rhetoric, actual lives are counting on it.

Featured image courtesy of Tampa Bay Times.
Sources: CNN; Politico.com; US House of Representatives; GovTrack.us;