VA secretary to visit Phoenix, meet with veterans, employees
Aug 6, 2014, 11:12 AM | Updated: 4:31 pm
PHOENIX — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald will be in Phoenix on Friday to meet with employees of the VA and veterans.
The visit is likely part of a new program enacted by McDonald. According to the Military Times, his goal is to host a town hall-style meeting at all health and benefit centers under his administration’s control to get feedback from employees and veterans.
“Caring for veterans is a calling, and our first commitment is to provide veterans and their families the timely, quality care and benefits they have earned and deserve through their service to our nation,” McDonald said in a statement. “It is critical that we continue to listen and learn directly from those who use our system.”
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) said she would meet with McDonald.
“I look forward to meeting Secretary McDonald and continuing the work necessary to ensure all our veterans receive the quality care they deserve,” she said in a release.
Phoenix was at the forefront of a scandal that blew the VA wide open after it was revealed thousands of veterans were forced to wait for months or years to visit a primary care doctor.
McDonald is expected to speak with media after the meetings.
