(Washington, DC)  – Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D. (R-South Louisiana) released the following statement today after submitting written testimony to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.  The Committee, today, held a hearing entitled “From the Ground Up: Assessing Ongoing Delays in VA Major Construction,” in which various Veterans’ Affairs (VA) officials served as witnesses.  This testimony called for transparency and accountability in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs solicitation process: 

“After the recent events surrounding the VA clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles, I found it necessary to submit this testimony to urge the Committee to make necessary changes to the solicitation process. The last thing I want to see is healthcare for our nation’s veterans compromised due to preventable mistakes. My testimony seeks to bring attention to an issue that caused a delay in VA healthcare facilities receiving an upgrade in South Louisiana. I hope the Committee can utilize this opportunity to avoid a similar delay in the future. After sacrificing so much for this country, our veterans, in Louisiana and across the country, deserve the very best.”    

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Rep. Boustany, a physician with a history of treating veterans in VA facilities, has been the leading advocate for veterans’ healthcare regarding the upgrade of clinics in Lake Charles and Lafayette and will continue advocating for those who fought on behalf of this country.

Chairman Jeff Miller of the House Committee of Veterans’ Affairs will submit the testimony into the official record on behalf of Rep. Boustany.