Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) spoke on Monday to where thinks the problems lie inside the Buffalo VA Medical Center, a week after two hospital officials were replaced with interim leadership after complaints of inadequate and prolonged treatment, causing some veterans to wait months for care.
"The fact that we are hearing that there has been a delay in care anywhere in our country for our military veterans, even right here at the VA in Buffalo, New York, is absolutely unacceptable, and quite frankly, it's despicable, the VA has to do better," said Rep. Kennedy with WBEN.
"There is an internal investigation happening as we speak. We will be monitoring this investigation, asking the questions necessary to get the information that will allow us, as a House of Representatives and as a full Congress to put in place resources to make sure that our veterans get the care that they have earned and rightfully deserve."
Where does Kennedy believe the predominant issues lie. Is it an administrative problem? Is it the short staffing?
"It's both, quite frankly, but the short staffing and the lack of resources starts at the top, and the fact that the administrators at the Buffalo VA didn't listen to the local workforce and provide for the resources necessary to take care of our veterans is a failure of leadership," Kennedy said.
"The veterans deserve better. The workers that are taking care of our veterans deserve better. I stand with the nurses and the healthcare practitioners that are on the front lines, literally providing the services, the healthcare resources that our veterans deserve. If you don't give them the resources to do their job appropriately, there's going to be a lack of ability to give those services that are at the level that the veterans deserve."
State Assemblyman Pat Burke last week said there's a specialty care issue in Western New York. People have to go to Pittsburgh, Rochester or Cleveland to get specialty care, such as specialized oncology services if they can't go to Roswell.
"That's an unfortunate regional problem that we have to fix," said Burke.
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Rep. Kennedy, who took Brian Higgins' seat in Washington via special election in April 2024, was just appointed to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
The congressman says he is already in conversation with his colleagues in Washington, and is prioritizing the issues that persist not only at the Buffalo VA Medical Center, but a VA hospitals nationwide.
Congressman Nick Langworthy (R, NY-23) mentioned in a prior press conference that an investigation into matters at the Buffalo VA are currently underway, and a report will soon be released by the Inspector General.
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"As we get information from this investigation, we will take appropriate action as a United States Congress, if necessary. In the meantime, we need to recognize that the local workforce that has been clamoring for more support, we need to get it to them as quickly as we can. We've already begun conversing with the leadership at the Veterans' Affairs at the federal level, and we'll make sure that our voices here in Western New York are heard," added Kennedy.