releases: http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-meets-deputy-va-secretary-sloan-gibson-montgomery
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-meets-deputy-va-secretary-sloan-gibson-montgomery | Roby Meets with Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson in Montgomery | 2014-10-10 | 2014 | 2014-10 | Republican | House | AL | Martha Roby | R000591 | roby.house.gov | legacy | MONTGOMERY, Ala. – U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) today met with Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson to discuss the need to overhaul the troubled Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS). Earlier this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs moved to terminate system director James Talton for “neglect of duty” after numerous instances of misconduct and malfeasance were exposed at CAVHCS. In July, Rep. Roby and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) wrote Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald requesting that he visit the Central Alabama VA and develop a plan to reform it, with attention and accountability from Washington. “It is crucial that senior VA officials in Washington see first hand what’s going on here in Central Alabama, so I’m pleased Mr. Gibson was here,” Rep. Roby said. “As I explained to him, this is my district, and these are my veteran constituents who are being mistreated because of the negligence that has occurred here. “My focus is making the Central Alabama VA better for veteran patients who need it. I think we are getting somewhere in terms of convincing VA management to utilize outside local hospitals and doctors to help reduce the wait times and get veterans access to care. “I’m going to continue to press the VA. I think it was pretty clear to Mr. Gibson that this remains my priority, and I’m not going anywhere.” Timeline of recent events: May 2014 – the VA’s Office of Inspector General confirms numerous allegations of rampant abuse and mismanagement at a VA health care facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Rep. Roby said the Phoenix revelations, particularly the scheduling fraud, “sounded familiar” compared to the many complaints she received from veteran constituents. June 2014 – reports emerge showing CAVHCS employees had engaged in particularly egregious scheduling manipulation. Even with the artificially inflated numbers, CAVHCS reports some of the longest wait times for veterans patients in the country. June 2014 – During a meeting to discuss the troubling findings, CAVHCS Director James Talton leads Rep. Roby to believe disciplinary action, including the removal of employees, had been taken against those responsible for misconduct within Central Alabama. That was not true, Rep. Roby soon learns by talking with multiple whistleblowers who contacted her office with special knowledge of CAVHCS. June 2014 – After what she called this “breach of trust,” Rep. Roby and her staff began digging deeper to find out what was really happening inside CAVHCS. July 2014 – Rep. Roby and U.S. Senator Richard Shelby call national attention to the problems within CAVHCS including disturbing instances of malfeasance and cover-up. They write newly confirmed VA Secretary Robert McDonald asking him to visit CAVHCS and develop a plan to reform it. August 2014 – Continued exposure of misconduct leads to action being taken in late August to place Talton and Robinson on administrative leave and install new leadership. September 2014 – Rep. Roby meets with acting-director Robin Jackson and Southeast regional director Charles Sepich at CAVHCS about her distrust of the VA system. October 6, 2014 – The Department of Veterans Affairs announces it has moved to terminate James Talton, the former system director who presided over the troubled Central Alabama System since 2011. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |