Senate VA Committee chairman and Legion's Distinguished Service Award recipient: We're going to see that veterans get the service they deserve.
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson has one goal for the final months of his current congressional term – one he shared with members of The American Legion Feb. 23 during the organization’s Washington Conference.
“I’m not going to be a member of the (Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs) who stands before you on television and talks about what I should have done when I was chairman,” said Isakson, who currently serves in that role. “We’re going to fix the (Department of Veterans Affairs’) problems … and we’re going to see to it that the veterans of America get the services they deserve in the fashion and timeliness they deserve to get them.”
Isakson said he’s set a goal for his committee and shared it with VA Secretary Bob McDonald. “This business about trying to figure out how to make members of the VA accountable has got to stop,” he said. “I know what accountability means. Accountability means you do your job or there are consequences.
“We’ve had too many situations in the service to our veterans where the consequences for bad service (were) no service at all. And I’m going to see to it that that changes.”
A bill will be dropped on March 31 in the Senate that Isakson hopes will be acted on in both chambers before June, when he said the focus will shift to the presidential election.
“I’m going to see to it that we have addressed better accountability of the (VA) and … where every (patient) gets the accountable service with a smile they deserve, or that person that didn’t give it to them doesn’t work for the VA anymore.”
Isakson praised the work that McDonald has done in his two years leading VA. And though problems remains, Isakson said VA is headed in the right direction – and will continue to do so because of bipartisan efforts.
“No one party gets it always right and always wrong,” Isakson said. “Nobody fighting for America fights for just Democrats or just Republicans. They fight for Americans. Don’t show me your party. I’m going to see to it that we work together.”
A member of American Legion Post 233 in Loganville, Ga., Isakson was presented the Legion’s Distinguished Public Service Award following his remarks.
- Washington Conference