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12/04/07: IAVA's Top 10 Questions for VA Secretary Nominee |
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- In 2007, the scandal at Walter
Reed finally drew attention to the tremendous obstacles facing wounded
troops coming home from Iraq. But many of these issues were already
coming to light years earlier, even in 2003 and 2004, when you were
Surgeon General. You have said that
you were unaware of any problems during your tenure. How will you ensure these mistakes
aren't repeated at VA?
- Having worked most recently for
QTC Management, a major contractor with the VA, what is your stance on
expanding the role of private contractors as providers of VA services and
benefits?
- According to the Pentagon's Task
Force on Mental Health, "the current complement of mental health professionals
is woefully inadequate" to provide the mental health care to today's
military. Do you agree with this
assessment? Should you have
done more to alleviate this shortage in the military, and how will you
address this problem at VA?
- Do you believe the current World
War Two-style GI Bill adequately covers the cost of college tuition today? If not, what specific improvements to
the GI Bill would you recommend?
- As VA Secretary, would you commit
to implementing immediately the VA-specific recommendations from the Dole-Shalala
Commission?
- Disabled veterans are waiting too
long for their disability benefits.
The number of backlogged claims has increased over 50% over the
past three years to almost 400,000 pending disability claims. Just last week, a new report showed that
the average time for claims processing has risen again, to 183 days. What will you do to reduce the backlog?
- The VA budget is late again this
year, and temporary funding bills leave veterans' hospitals unable to plan
their budgets accurately. Do you think mandatory VA funding is the answer?
- According to the VA, "more than
25 percent of veterans enrolled in VA health care-over 1.7 million-live
over 60 minutes driving time from a VA hospital." This number is likely to rise because
the mission in Iraq
has relied heavily on National Guardsmen and Reservists, who are
disproportionately from rural areas, underserved by VA hospitals and
clinics. How would you better the
care available to veterans living in rural areas?
- Since 2001, 22,000 troops have
been discharged from the military with a ‘personality disorder.'
Personality disorder discharges have increased 40% in the Army since the
invasion of Iraq. Why do you think there has been such a dramatic
increase in what are supposedly pre-existing conditions? Many have suggested that these troops
are actually suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Do you believe PTSD is being
misdiagnosed?
- You will have much less time than
your predecessors to influence VA policy under this Administration. What are the top three specific changes
you hope to implement during your tenure and what can you realistically
hope to accomplish?
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