Bilirakis Demands Answers from VA on Bay Pines Incident

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) has written a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald demanding further details on the termination of Bay Pines VA staff members responsible for leaving the body of a Veteran in a shower room for over nine hours then attempting to cover it up. Please click here to read the full letter.

"While the VA is now acknowledging that two individuals have been fired as a result of this incident, I remain concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the matter," said Bilirakis. "That is why I am requesting the VA provide more information on the terminated employees, and others involved, to ensure all those responsible are held fully accountable. Our Veterans have already sacrificed so much on behalf of the nation, we must see that they are provided proper care and treatment."

Bilirakis, Vice Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, has consistently pushed for legislation to reform the VA and overhaul the culture of mediocrity that persists at the agency. A study from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that it can take up to a year or more to dismiss a federal employee. Bilirakis strongly supported House passage of the VA Accountability Act, legislation to make it easier for the VA Secretary to fire employees for misconduct or poor performance.