Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) on Wednesday slammed the Department of Veterans Affairs for failing to reduce the massive disability claims backlog that has inundated the VA, adding that the failure means officials need to be fired or demoted.
To address the problem, Boehner encouraged all members to support H.R. 4031, a bill that would streamline the process of firing or demoting officials at the VA.
"The principle here is simple: when you’re not getting the job done, you gotta go," Boehner said
"At any agency that has fallen down on the job, this would be unacceptable. But to have it happen in the health care system for America’s veterans? I think it's shameful. The VA is failing our veterans and their families. It’s time we hold these people accountable and get people in there who can fix this backlog once and for all," Boehner added.