The House passed the Veterans' Camera Reporting (VCR) Act (H.R. 1510) on Tuesday, one week after the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report faulting the Clarksburg VA Medical Center for multiple failures that resulted in one employee murdered eight veterans.
The bipartisan legislation will improve care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities by boosting video cameras for patient safety.
The bill was introduce by Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) joined Representatives David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV), David Trone (D-MD), Mike Bost (R-IL), Carol Miller (R-WV), and Alex Mooney (R-WV) to introduce this legislation.
"After the tragic murders at the Clarksburg VA medical facility, including a victim from southwestern Pennsylvania, Retired Army Sergeant Felix McDermott, it was clear Congress needed to take action to protect our nation's veterans," said Congressman Reschenthaler. "As a Navy veteran, I am proud to join Rep. McKinley and our colleagues to advance this bipartisan bill today, which will increase transparency and oversight at VA health care facilities. I look forward to working with them to protect patients' safety, get this bill across the finish line, and prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again."
The Senate companion version of this legislation was introduced by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.).
President Trump signed the Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act last Congress, which requires the VA to submit detailed reports on patient safety and quality of care at VA Medical Centers due to the deaths occurring at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center.
