Oversight Chairwoman Jen Kiggans Leads Legislative Hearing on Bills to Improve the Safety and Quality of VA Healthcare, Strengthen Accountability for Veterans

Oversight Chairwoman Jen Kiggans Leads Legislative Hearing on Bills to Improve the Safety and Quality of VA Healthcare, Strengthen Accountability for Veterans

Today, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee's legislative hearing to discuss House Republicans' proposed bills to implement needed oversight of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operations, protect veterans' data, improve workforce retention and accountability, expand federal subcontracting opportunities, payment reform, as well as improvements to the quality assurance and safety measures in VA's healthcare facilities nationwide. A full list of the bills on today's agenda can be found here.

Good Afternoon.

This legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will now come to order.

Before we begin, I would like to thank all of the members and witnesses testifying at today's hearing.

I'd also like to welcome the Members present from the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization who will be joining us today to discuss their bills.

Today's hearing will examine 12 bills covering a wide range of issues, all aimed at strengthening accountability, improving care, and ensuring VA delivers on its commitments to those who served.

These bills address critical areas including oversight of VA operations, protection of veterans' data, workforce retention and accountability, small business opportunity, payment reform, and improvements to the quality and safety of healthcare veterans receive every day.

While each proposal plays an important role, I want to focus on a few bills before us today that highlight exactly what is at stake if VA fails to meet the standard our veterans deserve.

First, my bill-the Veteran Infection Prevention Act-gets at the heart of patient safety. This legislation responds directly to a pattern of serious and well-documented failures within VA's sterile processing protocols, failures that have led to catastrophic consequences for veteran patients and need to be fixed.

At facilities like the Dublin VA Medical Center, findings showed that lapses in oversight and breakdowns in sterile processing protocols created unacceptable risks to patient safety.

These cases-and many others-demonstrate that this is not an isolated issue, but a systemic one.

They demonstrate the urgent need for reform and reinvestment in VA's workforce, particularly in the roles that operate behind the scenes, those that if they aren't done properly, can have serious consequences for patient care.

My bill is about ensuring that sterile processing technicians are properly trained, properly supported, and held to the highest standards-so that no veteran is ever again put at risk due to preventable failures in the system. As a former nurse practitioner, I take this responsibility seriously.

I also want to highlight the VA Site Neutral Payment Act, led by my colleague and friend, Dr. Miller-Meeks.

This bill addresses a long-standing inefficiency in how veterans' care is reimbursed-where the same service can cost dramatically different amounts depending solely on where the veteran goes for care due to overcomplicated regulations.

By moving toward site-neutral payments, we can eliminate unnecessary cost disparities, promote fairness, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly-without compromising the quality-of-care veterans receive.

I also want to recognize General Bergman's legislation to strengthen financial oversight at VA.

Empowering VA's Chief Financial Officer and improving financial transparency is essential if we are serious about accountability and restoring trust in how taxpayer dollars are managed.

And finally, I want to acknowledge Rep. Self's bill-the VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act.

This legislation closes a loophole that allows former VA employees to avoid repaying bonuses, awards, or relocation expenses that should have never been paid in the first place.

By extending VA's recoupment authority to former employees, this bill helps ensure taxpayer dollars are protected and accountability does not end when someone leaves government service.

I want to thank our witnesses again for being here today, and I look forward to our discussion.

I now recognize Ranking Member Ramirez for her opening remarks.

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