House Republicans on Monday released a Memorial Day video featuring their caucus’s military veterans.
“As a veteran, Memorial Day is one of the most important days of the year,” Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) said.
“These that we honor Memorial Day gave their future, they gave their dreams, so that we can live in a land of freedom here today,” Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) added.
“As a veteran, it means a lot to me because [there are] men and women who have sacrificed for their country,” Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) said. “Freedom doesn’t come free.”
{mosads}Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) added that Memorial Day also provides a chance to reexamine the performance of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
“This is a day of remembrance and honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “But for the last several years far too often we’re spending our time talking about the inadequacies of the VA.”
The Associated Press on Monday reported that federal authorities are looking into continued drug thefts at VA hospitals.
The VA inspector general reportedly opened 36 probes from Oct. 1 through May 19 into possible opioid and other drug thefts by employees at VA hospitals.
The AP reported that the VA inspector general now has 108 open criminal investigations despite the agency’s announcement in February that it would implement employee drug tests and inspections.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding drug theft,” Poonam Alaigh, the VA’s acting undersecretary for health, told the news service. “We have security protocols in place and will continue to work hard to improve it.”