Senior Veterans Affairs Official to Visit Memphis VA on Cohen's Invitation

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that his efforts to secure a visit to Memphis from senior leadership at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has paid off, with Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management Jan Murphy set to visit the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) next week, tour its medical facilities, and meet with Mid-South veterans.

“Any delay in providing care to the brave men and women who risked their lives for our safety is unacceptable and they deserve to receive the highest quality of care available,” said Congressman Cohen. “While the Memphis VA under the leadership of Director C. Diane Knight has implemented the recommendations of the VA Inspector General, I have been working closely with President Obama’s administration to bring senior VA leadership to Memphis since concerns about quality of care arose. I am pleased that Acting Deputy Under Secretary Murphy has accepted my invitation and will be able to address our veteran community’s concerns in person.”

Since reports calling into question the quality of care provided at the Memphis VAMC were uncovered, Congressman Cohen has repeatedly requested that high-ranking VA officials visit the facility to ensure that the agency fully understands the needs of the Memphis veteran community here on the ground. This visit by senior VA leadership will also serve to reassure the nearly 200,000 veterans served by the VA Medical Center in Memphis that the Department takes safety concerns seriously and is working to address them.