Rogers co-sponsors veterans bill

Congressman Mike Rogers

Alabama third district congressman Mike Rogers said Wednesday that if top-level employees of the Veterans Administration can't do their jobs, they shouldn't receive bonuses and should lose their jobs.  Rogers is a  co-sponsor of the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act, which would make it easier for the VA secretary to remove members of the Senior Executive Service for poor performance and, in some cases, fire top-level employees.  There are currently about 448 SES employees working for the VA.  Proponents in the House of Representatives said the bill was developed in response to what they describe as a "widespread lack of accountability" at the VA, including the backlog for veterans benefits and the mounting toll of at least 31 recent preventable deaths at medical centers around the country.  Rogers said additional reports showing senior VA employees may have been responsible for extended appointment wait times only make it more critical the issues be addressed quickly.  Rogers said that The recent reports of preventable deaths of veterans while waiting for VA care are appalling and inexcusable. It is also greatly disturbing to learn that some senior executive managers at these specific VA centers received massive bonuses, and those bonuses were never tied to their performance.  Rogers said These senior managers have the duty and responsibility to make sure our veterans get the care they deserve on time.  Rogers said that If they can't do their jobs, then they should be fired.