House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) opened an oversight hearing today focused on proposed plans to reorganize and restructure parts of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The hearing featured testimony from VA Secretary Doug Collins, who outlined changes aimed at better serving veterans, their families, and survivors.
The restructuring would include a review of the VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) map. Many elements of the VHA’s current structure have not been significantly updated since the 1990s. According to Chairman Bost, these outdated systems do not adequately address the needs of veterans across the United States and its territories.
Chairman Bost emphasized the importance of ensuring all veterans receive quality care regardless of where they live. “Veterans should not have to win the geographic lottery to get quality care,” he said during his remarks.
Secretary Collins was joined by John Bartrum, Under Secretary for Health; Mark Englebaum, Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration; and Gregory Goins, Acting Chief Operating Officer for the VHA.
Bost also asked Secretary Collins for a commitment to keep Congress informed as changes are implemented: “Secretary Collins, as this reorganization moves forward—and as additional changes occur within V.A. more broadly—will you commit to making yourself available to testify before this Committee as developments occur, not just during the annual budget submission?”
He concluded by inviting Ranking Member Takano to deliver his opening statement and encouraged committee members to use their time for direct questions about how these changes will impact both veterans and VA staff.
