{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-johnson-seek-information-dental-safety-veterans-after-wisconsin-incident", "Grassley, Johnson Seek Information on Dental Safety for Veterans After Wisconsin Incident", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Charles Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday asked Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald for more information following reports that veterans at the Tomah (Wis.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center may have been exposed to disease from the improper cleaning of dental equipment. \u00a0The letter follows news reports that 592 veterans were treated at the facility with dental instruments not compliant with VA policies, which may have exposed them to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. \u00a0The chairmen asked for information about the VA\u2019s training procedures and equipment protocol as well as steps that the VA is taking to ensure safety.The letter can be found here and below:December 6, 2016The Honorable Robert A. McDonald  Secretary  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs  810 Vermont Avenue NW  Washington, DC 20420Dear Secretary McDonald:We write today regarding disturbing news reports about hundreds of veterans that may have been exposed to Hepatitis B, C, and HIV due to the failure of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) dentist to comply with cleaning procedures. The report indicates that this particular dentist, working at the Tomah, Wisconsin VA Medical Center (Tomah VA), used his own equipment, cleaned it, and then reused it all in violation of VA regulations. \u00a0This activity reportedly occurred for one year. \u00a0Upon discovery of the dentist\u2019s alleged actions, Tomah VA leadership removed the dentist from patient care and placed him in an administrative role. \u00a0The dentist, a probationary employee at the time, resigned late last week. We understand the VA Office of Inspector General recently opened a review of this situation. \u00a0The Acting Medical Director of the facility, Victoria Brahm, was quoted as saying, \u201c[i]t was purposeful that [the dentist] was violating VA regulations.\u201d Ms. Brahm has also stated that the VA is following reporting procedures to the state licensing board where the dentist is licensed and to the National Practitioner Data Bank. It is unclear what other steps the VA has done to hold him accountable for the breach of protocol. \u00a0Further, it is unclear what the VA is doing on a national scale to ensure that all VA doctors, not just dentists, comply with safety protocols. \u00a0Although the Tomah VA has offered free screening for those potentially infected and has said the infection risk is low, it is most likely little comfort for those waiting for test results. \u00a0It is imperative that the VA provide Congress with additional information to better understand what has transpired at the Tomah VA to help ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve.We request that you please provide the following information:1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The news article notes that the dentist\u2019s temporary assistant notified VA officials that the dentist was not using disposable equipment and includes a quote from Ms. Brahm saying that an \u201cinvestigation\u201d took place. \u00a0Please describe in detail when the investigation was initiated, how the investigation was conducted, and what the investigation found. In addition, please provide any reports or summaries of the investigation.\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Please describe the training procedure by which doctors are informed of the VA\u2019s disposable equipment protocol. \u00a0In addition, please explain whether the VA requires periodic continuing education to reestablish medical protocols that must be followed. \u00a03.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Please describe all steps the VA has taken, or will take, to hold the dentist in question accountable.4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Please describe all steps the VA has taken, or will take, on a national scale to ensure that all VA doctors are complying with safety protocols.Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this request. \u00a0Please number your responses according to their corresponding questions and respond no later than December 20, 2016. \u00a0If you have questions, please contact Josh Flynn-Brown of Chairman Grassley\u2019s staff at (202) 224-5225 and Brian Downey or Kyle Brosnan of Chairman Johnson\u2019s staff at (202) 224-4751.Sincerely,\u00a0  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ron Johnson \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Charles E. Grassley  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Chairman \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Chairman  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Committee on Homeland Security \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Committee on the Judiciary  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and Governmental Affairs\u00a0  CC: \u00a0The Honorable Michael J. Missal\u00a0  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Inspector General  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\u00a0\u00a0-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-johnson-seek-information-dental-safety-veterans-after-wisconsin-incident"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7528169080615044, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}