Taking Action for Arizona Veterans

Since the allegations of long wait times and false record-keeping emerged at the Phoenix VA, we took several steps to address the crisis. Here are just a few of our actions so far: 

• Called for a full investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG).
  • On April 25, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the OIG had opened an investigation into the Phoenix VA.
• Passed a bipartisan amendment with Rep. Matt Salmon to increase funds available for the VA Office of Inspector General "for an investigation into the alleged misrepresentation of appointment times and the deaths of veterans at the Phoenix VA Hospital."
  • The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the final bill passed the House on May 1, 2014.
• Cosponsored and passed H.R. 2072, the Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act of 2013, H.R. 4810, the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014, and H.R. 4031 the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014.
• Requested a Department of Justice Investigation into the Phoenix VA.
  • The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In Phoenix, we have taken the following steps:

• Met with Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson and presented a specific plan to help the thousands of Arizona veterans who need care immediately.

• Spearheaded a working group of community providers and veterans service organizations coordinating care for veterans waiting for care at the Phoenix VA. (See below for more information)

• Partnered with the American Legion to help Arizona veterans at the American Legion Veterans Crisis Command Center.

If you or someone you know is experiencing problems with the Phoenix VA, please call our Phoenix Office: 602-956-2285. We will do everything we can to help. You can also visit our Veterans Resource Page, for information on veterans benefits and other resources.

Community Providers Helping Veterans Meetings

The purpose of these meetings is to broaden the VA's use of existing and new community partnerships, a step essential to both reforming the VA system and providing immediate care to veterans failed by the Phoenix VA. We will continue working to address issues at the VA so that all Arizona veterans receive access to quality care they deserve.

Combating Campus Sexual Assault

Last month, we joined a bipartisan majority to pass the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill. Included in this bill is the Sinema amendment, which provides additional resources to colleges and universities, like Arizona State University, to prevent and respond to campus sexual assault. Our amendment increases the Department of Justice’s Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program by one million dollars and offsets this cost by reducing General Administration funding by the same amount.

The amendment passed with bipartisan support. Increasing funding to this vital program represents an important step in empowering victims of sexual assault and protecting men and women on college campuses in Arizona and across the country. You can read more about the Sinema Amendment here.

Congratulations Military Service Academy Appointees!

In November 2013, our office's academy selection committee interviewed 25 candidates from Congressional District 09 for nomination to the U.S. Armed Forces Service Academies. Service academies are some of the country's most elite schools, training our nations next generation of military leaders. 

We are thrilled to announce that nine students we recommended were accepted to the service academies! This percentage rate is very high, especially given the high caliber of candidates applying these prestigious schools. Some of these outstanding students were even accepted into more than one school. 

Here is the final list:

US Naval Academy Connor Linnartz - Sunnyslope High Josh Ten Eyck - Desert Vista High Andres Ubieto Samayoa - Ahwatukee (not pictured) US Air Force Academy Ryan Lewis - Desert Vista High (not pictured) Matt Zabilski - Veritas Prep Academy Shanna Chen - Valley Christian High West Point (US Military Academy) Vanessa Wesley - Desert Vista High Brandon Corke - Veritas Prep Academy Jonathon Ng - Arcadia High

Congresswoman Sinema with seven of the nine  Service Academy Appointees

We are extremely proud of these amazing students and wish them all the best as they continue on to a very exciting and demanding phase in their lives.

Visit our information page for more information about applying to the Armed Forces Service Academies.

Please note that the application deadline to be considered for the next class is Friday, October 31, 2014.

How Can We Help You?

We can provide assistance by helping your family to cut through the red tape and navigate problems that you may be experiencing with a federal agency. While we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do everything we can to help. 

If you need help with the VA, Medicare, Social Security, the IRS, student loans, home loan modifications, or other federal issues, please call us at (602) 956-2285 and ask to speak with a member of our team.