| 02/11/26 |
To Secretary Collins: Expand and Improve Accessibility of Veteran Retreats for Women and Disabled Veterans Ranking Member Blumenthal sent a letter to Secretary Doug Collins urging the Department to expand access to women-only Vet Center group retreats. Despite the proven mental health benefits of these retreats for reducing PTSD and trauma-related distress, VA held only six women-only retreats in 2024 and five in 2025, serving a combined total of just 203 participants. While some women veterans have benefitted from these retreats, those who use wheelchairs or have other medical needs have thus far been unable to do so. Accommodating these individuals and ensuring these retreats are more inclusive to the disabled veteran population is the Department’s duty in providing quality care to veterans. |
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Awaiting Response
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| 02/04/26 |
To Secretary Collins: The VA Must Answer Outstanding Information Requests on VHA Reorganization and VA Operations Ranking Member Blumenthal and Chairman Jerry Moran sent a letter to Secretary Doug Collins regarding sixteen outstanding requests for information and briefings that the VA has yet to comply with and the Secretary promised would be delivered as part of the hearing on the Restructure for Impact and Sustainability Effort (RISE), a major, multi-year reorganization of the Veterans Health Administration announced in late 2025. The requests cover a wide range of oversight priorities including workforce, wait time data, a full accounting of VA’s use of $6 billion in FY2025 supplemental funding, and key documents related to VHA’s plan for RISE. The Committee emphasizes that transparency is essential to ensuring veterans can continue to access the care and benefits they have earned. |
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Awaiting Response
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| 01/05/26 |
To Secretary Collins: Troubling Trends Show an Increase in Harassment and Sexual Assault Claims Ranking Member Blumenthal sent a letter to Secretary Collins raising awareness about a concerning trend of increased submitted harassment and sexual assault incidents at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. In its most recent annual report, VA disclosed 1,541 cases of sexual harassment at its facilities. In light of this information, Raking Member Blumenthal requested more information on the processes VA has in place to handle harassment claims and on the plan VA has for reversing this disturbing trend. |
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Unsatisfactory Response
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| 12/18/25 |
To Comptroller General Dodaro: The Big Beautiful Bill Will Hurt Veterans' Access to Essential Health Care and Supportive Services Ranking Member Blumenthal and his Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Comptroller General Dodaro requesting a review on dangerous cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill on SNAP, Medicaid and ACA coverage provisions for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Currently, 20,000 military families and 1.2 million veteran households rely on SNAP benefits and up to 1.75 million veterans and active duty servicemember households rely on Medicaid. These reductions will cause more veterans to rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits, which are already being threatened due to the VA workforce and resources cuts. |
- Trump Admin Harm
- Health Care
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Awaiting Response
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| 12/12/25 |
To Secretary Collins and Secretary Noem: A Non-US Citizen VA Database Threatens Veteran Care and Puts VA Staff at Risk Ranking Member Blumenthal, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Takano, and their Democratic colleagues sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing deep concern over the VA’s plan to create a database of all non-U.S. citizens employed by or affiliated with the VA. The proposed database risks deterring foreign-born employees, VA contractors, and volunteers who fill critical roles in veteran healthcare, research, and benefits delivery. Sharing this data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement could lead to unlawful detention or deportation of noncitizen veterans who served our country and could jeopardize VA care for veterans living abroad. |
- Workforce
- Trump Admin Harm
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Unsatisfactory Response
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| 11/20/25 |
To Secretary Collins: Immediately Reactivate Whistleblower Protection and Harassment Prevention Trainings Ranking Member Blumenthal sent a letter to Secretary Collins about a staggering increase in reports of sexual harassment and assault since the Department began reporting these metrics to Congress. This fragmentation can often force individuals to navigate multiple offices to file a single report, creating delays and requiring these individuals to retell their experiences. Ranking Member Blumenthal asks VA to better protect those who have served our nation, as well as the employees who have chosen to serve them. |
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Satisfactory Response
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| 11/13/25 |
To Secretary Collins: Increased Mental Health Appointment Wait Times Will Harm Veterans Ranking Member Blumenthal sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins to raise awareness of the drastic increase in wait times for veteran patients scheduling a mental health appointment in Connecticut. Most VA facilities in Connecticut had wait times under 50 days at the beginning of the year. However, now, most are above 50 days, and some are well above a 100 day wait. Such delays are not only inconsistent with VA’s stated access-to-care standards but also pose serious risks to the health and safety of those who served our nation. |
- Mental Health
- Health Care
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Satisfactory Response
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| 10/28/25 |
To VA Inspector General Mason: Request to Investigate VA's Teleradiology Services Ranking Member Blumenthal sent a letter to the VA Inspector General, Ms. Mason, requesting an investigation into VA’s teleradiology services. The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs minority staff has received multiple reports from whistleblowers of severe delays in teleradiology processing times, resulting in reduced quality of care for veterans and increased costs for the Department. This is due to the loss of onsite radiologists as well as other challenges that are causing potentially life threatening delays. Since January 2025, there has been a ninety-five percent loss of onsite radiologists and interventional radiologists. |
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Awaiting Response
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| 10/23/25 |
To Comptroller General Dodaro: Staff Shortages within the VA SCI/D Workforce Are a Cause for Concern Ranking Member Blumenthal sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro asking the Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent audit on the state of the VA spinal care injury and disorder (SCI/D) workforce. Staff shortages continue to cause concerns for patients who receive SCI/D treatment at VA. Despite the concerns raised by veterans and caregivers experiencing these shortages firsthand, VA witnesses at a hearing on September 17 refused to answer even the simplest of questions regarding SCI/D staffing – obstructing Congressional oversight and reneging on promises of transparency. |
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Awaiting Response
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| 10/09/25 |
To Secretary Collins: Thousands of Veteran Students' Critical Education and Housing Payments Delayed Ranking Members Blumenthal and Takano sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins demanding that he immediately process and disburse critical educational and housing benefits to student veterans provided under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31), and the Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35). These payments are essential, mandatory funds that veterans and their families rely on for food, rent or mortgage payments, immediate needs, and financial stability. |
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Awaiting Response
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