Rep. Corrine Brown

Rep. Corrine Brown

Ranking Member

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

U.S. House of Representatives

“Testimony of Subpoenaed Witnesses on the Department of Veterans Affairs Alleged Misuse of Relocation Program and Incentives”

Monday, November 2, 2015, at 7:30 P.M.

• Thank You Mr. Chairman.

• The Hearing this evening is a follow-up to the Committee’s hearing nearly two weeks ago regarding the September VA Inspector General report on “Inappropriate Use of Position and Misuse of Relocation Program and Incentives.”

• The IG report made a number of serious charges.  As part of our oversight efforts, the Committee is looking into the use of relocation incentives as well as looking into the culture of the Veterans Benefits Administration.

• It is important that we get a better understanding of how VA uses relocation incentives to fill important positions, especially when we see a VA where many important leadership positions go unfilled.  We must determine whether these programs work, and are working as intended.  If they are not, then we must work together to make sure that they are used as a recruitment and retention tool, and not simply a means to reward specific employees when the usual tools of bonuses and pay increases are not available.

• To further our efforts in this area, the Chairman joined me in requesting that GAO look into the Appraised Value Offer, or AVO program, not only at VA but across the government.  I look forward to their report in the very near future.

• The allegations in the IG report are serious, and highlight a culture of cronyism within the Veterans Benefits Administration.  I hope our witnesses will be able to help us get to the bottom of this.  We all respect the right of any of our witnesses to avail themselves of any Constitutional rights they have.  But at the end of the day we simply must find answers and make the reforms and changes we need to make to ensure that veterans come first.

• Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.