{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/jenkins-yoder-push-va-to-explain-how-disgraced-medical-center-physician", "Jenkins, Yoder Push VA to Explain How Disgraced Medical Center Physician Assistant Passed Background Check", "2016-07-25", "2016", "2016-07", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Kevin Yoder", "Y000063", "yoder.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u00a0\u2013 According to recent reports, a former physician assistant, Mark Wisner, at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center had a police record prior to his hire date yet he passed his initial background check and was not given any subsequent background checks. In response, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-03) sent a letter to Deputy Inspector General Linda Halliday at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to request more information on the initial background check and the VA\u2019s screening process.\n\u201cThe fact that a physician assistant, who takes care of our veterans on a personal level, had a police record of this nature and still passed the initial background check is astounding,\u201d said Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins. \u201cWhether this is a lapse in leadership or negligence, we need to do more to ensure those with disturbing police records are not employed by the VA. Our veterans deserve the best quality healthcare.\u201d\n\u201cThis can never happen again, period,\u201d said Congressman Kevin Yoder. \u201cOur veterans sacrifice so much to defend our freedoms, and in return we must defend them from ever having to face abuse like this when they come home seeking care. I look forward to the VA\u2019s response to our request and their thorough explanation of who will be held accountable and what specific steps can be taken to ensure no veteran will ever be subjected to this kind of pain again.\u201d\n###", 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": ["http://yoder.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/jenkins-yoder-push-va-to-explain-how-disgraced-medical-center-physician"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8484348654747009, "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"}