The Department of Veterans Affairs has allegedly stonewalled congressional efforts to investigate an agency-run hospital cited for shortcomings, leading lawmakers to plan a field hearing regarding the medical center.
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R., N.Y.) said in a statement Wednesday that his office has received numerous allegations and complaints pertaining to the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Long Island in recent months. The Northport hospital attracted media attention earlier this year when the New York Times reported that the facility closed five operating rooms when contaminants began falling from air ducts belonging to the hospital’s HVAC system, as a result of the facility’s decaying building.
The Northport VA campus was also the site of a veteran suicide last week. Peter Kaisen, a 76-year-old veteran, shot himself in the parking lot of the hospital on Aug. 21 after reportedly being denied service at the emergency room department. Representatives for the hospital have said there was no indication Kaisen visited the emergency room prior to the incident.
Zeldin, who did not mention the veteran suicide in his statement Wednesday, said that he has referred complaints about the hospital to the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, but that congressional efforts to investigate have been "stonewalled" by VA leaders.
The Republican lawmaker pointed to a letter sent by Rep. Jeff Miller (R., Fla.), chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, on July 29 requesting more information about environmental issues at the Northport VA and the agency’s plans to remedy them.
The department has not yet responded to the letter, which requested a response by Aug. 26, Zeldin said.
"Amid a chorus of complaints and allegations from veterans, whistleblowers, and other stakeholders, there are more questions than answers regarding a number of issues at the Northport VA. The VA is contributing to this uncertainty by stonewalling congressional efforts to investigate," Zeldin said.
As a result, lawmakers on the House VA committee plan to conduct a Sept. 20 field hearing on Long Island regarding the Northport VA.
"My office will continue to maintain communication with the individuals who contacted us and we are working with the committee to ensure they have all of the information that they need to investigate," Zeldin said Wednesday. "Congress’ investigation will continue until all the facts are at hand. Ensuring our veterans have only the highest quality of care is one of my highest priorities in Congress."
A bipartisan pair of congressmen last week sent a letter to the FBI and VA asking for a thorough investigation into the recent veteran suicide at the Northport hospital.
A Washington Free Beacon review of inspector general reports related to the Northport VA revealed last week that the facility has long been flagged for issues with management and hospital conditions.