Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, representing Alaska and a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), has taken action with 15 fellow senators to demand increased accountability from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This follows a significant budget issue that recently came to light.

The group of senators, led by Sen. Sullivan, addressed their concerns in a letter to SVAC Chairman Senator Jon Tester. They are advocating for the inclusion of the Protecting Regular Order (PRO) for Veterans Act in any upcoming legislation from the committee before year's end. The proposed PRO Vets Act would require the VA to provide quarterly, in-person budget reports to Congress over three years. It also suggests withholding bonuses for senior VA and Office of Management and Budget personnel if financial discrepancies occur again.

The letter highlights a recent incident where "the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notified Committee members of a looming $3 billion shortfall." This was expected to impact benefit payments to veterans by October 1, 2024, unless an emergency supplemental appropriation was made by Congress. However, it later emerged that this shortfall did not exist; instead, the VA concluded Fiscal Year 2024 with a $5.1 billion surplus.

The senators expressed concern over this mismanagement: “Whether by negligence or deceit, this is a stunning about-face that demands our attention.” They emphasized that veterans deserve stability and accountability from VA employees and argued against expanding VA's authority without proper oversight mechanisms like those proposed in the PRO Vets Act.

Senators supporting Sullivan's initiative include Chuck Grassley, Bill Cassidy, Roger Wicker, Thom Tillis, Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Tommy Tuberville, Roger Marshall, Kevin Cramer, Mike Braun, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Budd, Pete Ricketts and Lisa Murkowski.

In September attempts were made by Sen. Sullivan to pass the PRO Vets Act as part of an amendment to a VA supplemental funding package but faced opposition from Senate Democrats.