Secretary Shulkin: Let me tell you about Sergeant
Michael Virado.
Sergeant Virado was deployed to Afghanistan in
2009 with the -- with the 82nd Airborne and this was
not an easy assignment.
This was really dangerous work.
In fact, 37 of the men that Sergeant Virado
served with didn't return home.
It was in 2010 that he was severely injured in an IED
blast.
He lost an arm, a leg and 40 percent of his body had
burns over it.
He wasn't expected to survive the medical
flight, but he did fortunately.
Thanks to really what may be described as a miracle
and certainly the support of his amazing wife,
Sarah; 110 surgeries and years of therapy,
Michael's able to join us here today.
And it's Veterans like Michael that are the
reason the VA exists.
It's why, when I had the privilege of sitting in my
office not too long ago with Michael and Sarah
talking about their experience that it was
really heartbreaking for me to hear their story
because the VA had failed Michael.
He had to jump through one bureaucratic hoop after
another just to try to get the services that he
deserved and he had earned.
In one situation, he had to wait 57 days just to
get his prosthetic leg fixed.
He had to wait three and a half years to be able to
get the type of adaptions for his home that he
needed to be able to live comfortably in his home.
I'm pleased to say he's waiting no longer.
Unfortunately, Michael's story isn't unique and
that's the reason why we're so focused on
fixing the VA and reforming the VA.
The President and I are committed to fixing the VA
and tackling the challenges that have been
within the VA system for decades.
Millions of Veterans like Michael and their families
are counting on us.
So today, we're here to celebrate an important
step towards that reform of the VA.
I'm thrilled that Michael and his wife, Sarah, are
here with us today.
They have two daughters in their home in North
Carolina and I think as you'll see, expecting
another very soon.
Michael and Sarah, thank you for your
service and sacrifice.
You inspire all of us to do better.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sergeant
Michael Virado and Sarah.
(Applause)
Michael Virado: I am truly honored and humbled to be
speaking here today.
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to
serve my country.
And in the summer of 2009, I had the privilege of
deploying as an infantryman of the 82nd
Airborne to conduct opt combat operations in
southern Afghanistan.
I prepared myself for the worst, death
and dismemberment.
On April 24, 2010, I stepped on an improvised
explosive device that caused life
altering injuries.
My long road home has included over 100
surgeries and years of speech, visual, physical
and occupational therapies.
I knew that such injuries were a risk of the
enlistment that I made.
What I was not prepared for was coming home to a
broken VA system.
I wasn't prepared to wait 57 days for a signature on
a piece of paper so that my only prosthetic limb
could be repaired.
I wasn't prepared to be asked to make a three hour
roundtrip so that just last year, they could
check to see if I still had my serious
combat injuries.
I wasn't prepared to watch my wife beg, plead and
make countless phone calls so that I could receive
what was often basic and necessary medical care.
But today is a new day.
And this Administration has fulfilled its promise
that the Veterans empowered and the Veteran
is in charge of his or her own care.
Under the previous Administration, I waited
over three and a half years for required adapted
changes to be made so that I could safely reside in
my own home.
Under President Trump, with the assistance of
Secretary Shulkin, these changes were
made within weeks.
Today, our President, Donald Trump will sign
this important bill into law that will ensure real
accountability for our nation's Veterans.
Dr. Shulkin will be empowered to ensure that
the VA adheres to the standard of excellence it
promotes and that the employees who are at the
VA are the ones that have a servant's heart for
those who have worn our nation's uniform.
The most difficult part of my war injuries were
coming home to such a broken system.
Thank you, President Trump and Secretary Shulkin for
ensuring that we are not forgotten and that we will
receive the care we need and deserve.
Thank you.
(Applause)
Secretary Shulkin: Thank you, Michael and Sarah.
I want you to know you're the reason why we're
working night and day to make sure that we get this
system working better and we're not going to stop
until we do better for families like yours.
A few weeks ago, I was here at the White House
and I had the chance to deliver a talk on the
state of the VA.
And in those remarks, I talked about 13 risks that
VA faces in its reform.
One of those was accountability.
Veterans deserve an organization that they can
trust that provides the highest quality services.
Employees who act contrary to our core values erode
that trust and there's nothing more demoralizing
to our workforce and to Veterans when VA is forced
to take employees back who have deviated
from those values.
I've talked about examples of employees who had three
driving under the influence arrests;
employees that taking care of Veterans while watching
pornography; and a system that allows this is
clearly broken.
We won't be able to accomplish any of the
reforms that we need to in the VA if we don't get the
right people in place.
The Veterans Affairs Accountability and
Whistleblower Protection Act is going to make it
easier and quicker for us to hold our employees
accountable, while protecting our employees'
rights to due process.
The bill also gives us the additional flexibilities
when it comes to hiring.
It dramatically reduces the time that it takes to
be able to put strong leaders in place in these
important positions.
I want to thank the members of Congress that
are here today.
This was a bipartisan effort.
This was your leadership that allowed this to
happen and then, of course, the President will
be able to sign this because of the work that
you've done.
I also want to thank our Veterans Service
Organizations who are in the audience today because
your constant support to do the right thing for our
Veterans is so important for us.
Over these past few months, we've accomplished
a lot at VA.
We've dramatically expanded access.
We've published all of our wait times so that our
Veterans can see what those times are.
We've reduced our times to process disability claims.
We've launched the President's White House
hot line.
We've made decisions that are important in
modernizing the VA.
One of those was the replace our electronic
medical record to share one with the Department of
Defense and we've started to modernize our
facilities with new public/private
partnerships and getting rid of vacant and
underutilized properties.
We've also reduced regulations.
We've made it easier for states to be able to build
state nursing homes without the federal
guidelines, but to rely on their own.
And most importantly, we've taken important
steps to be able to reduce Veteran suicides.
We fixed the Veterans' Crisis Line.
We've expanded mental health providers and we've
also expanded coverage to other than honorable
Veterans who have been discharged.
I want to thank President Trump for his leadership
and determination to fix the VA.
The President knows that we have to do better
for our Veterans.
And so, it's actually a great honor today that the
president will sign the Veterans' Affairs
Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.
I have the pleasure today of introducing the biggest
champion Veterans could hope for.
Under his leadership and unwavering support, VA's
been moving to solve many of these challenges that
have been spanning multiple administrations
over decades.
Veterans deserve a VA that they can trust and take
pride in.
VA's a national resource that must be protected in
order to serve Veterans and the families for
generations to come.
President Trump understands this and knows
that in order to fix the VA we need to modernize
our systems, improve access and deliver the
highest quality of care and services.
Mr. President, today, is no doubt a great day for
Veterans, their families and the vast majority of
VA employees who want nothing more than to give
back to those who have sacrificed so much.
Mr. President, thank you for your leadership and
unwavering support for Veterans.
So it is with great pride that I introduce the 45th
President of the United States, Donald Trump.
(Applause)
The President: Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
Thank you very much, everybody.
That's really greatly appreciated.
And thank you to Secretary Shulkin for that
introduction and for your really tireless efforts,
David, to protect those who have really been
protecting all of us for so long.
There great, great people.
And you know I'm talking about, right?
Congratulations.
In just a short time, we've already achieved
transformative change at the VA -- and believe me,
we're just getting started.
We have so many people that have been so helpful
right here in the room -- Tom and all my friends.
It's been fantastic.
The enthusiasm for the Veterans Administration
and for making it right for our great veterans has
been incredible.
And I want to thank all of them.
One of my greatest honors and joys during the
presidential campaign was the time I spent going all
across the country with our nation's really and
truly incredible veterans.
In their courage, their dignity, and their
selfless sacrifice, they represent the very best of us.
Our veterans have fulfilled their duty to
this nation -- and now we must fulfill our duty to them.
So to every veteran who is here with us today, I just
want to say two very simple words: Thank you.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
Thank you.
You are the warriors and heroes who have won our
freedom -- and we will never forget what you have
done for all of us -- ever.
As you all know all too well, for many years the
government failed to keep its promises
to our veterans.
We all remember the nightmare that veterans
suffered during the VA scandals that were exposed
a few years ago.
Veterans were put on secret waitlists, given
the wrong medication, given the bad treatments,
and ignored in moments of crisis for them.
Many veterans died waiting for a simple
doctor's appointments.
What happened was a national disgrace.
And yet, some of the employees involved in
these scandals remained on the payrolls.
Outdated laws kept the government from holding
those who failed our veterans accountable.
Today, we are finally changing those laws --
wasn't easy, but we did have some fantastic help
-- to make sure that the scandal of what we
suffered so recently never, ever happens again
-- and that our veterans can get the care
they so richly deserve.
So you just heard from Sergeant Michael Verardo.
I didn't get to shake your hand, Michael.
Huh?
Get up, Michael.
(Applause.)
He gets up better than I do.
(Laughter.)
Thank you, Michael.
Michael lost two limbs in defending our country --
and yet he had to wait 57 days to get his prosthetic
leg repaired -- that's a long time, Michael -- and
over three-and-half years for modifications to make
his house more accessible.
What happened to Michael is happening to many, but
it's rarely happening under our leadership and
David's leadership anymore.
That I can tell you.
Our Wounded Warriors have given everything they have
to this nation -- and we owe them everything we
have in return.
And we're taking care of it.
Today, we are taking a very historic action to
transform the VA by enacting the VA
Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.
This was not easy.
This was not an easy one.
And it's one that they wanted to do -- Michael,
you know -- for a long time.
For many years, couldn't get it done.
We got it done.
This is one of the largest reforms to the
VA in its history.
It's a reform that I campaigned on, and now I
am thrilled to be able to sign that promise into law.
VA accountability is essential to making sure
that our veterans are treated with the respect
they have so richly earned through their blood,
sweat and tears.
This law will finally give the VA Secretary -- who
is, by the way, just doing some job, and he's doing
it with this and with the heart.
(Applause.)
It gives the Secretary the authority to remove
federal employees who fail and endanger our veterans
-- and to do so quickly and effectively.
It's been a long time since you've heard those words.
Those entrusted with the sacred duty of serving our
veterans will be held accountable for the
care they provide.
It's a big statement.
At the same time, this bill protects
whistleblowers who do the right thing.
We want to reward, cherish, and promote the
many dedicated employees at the VA.
This legislation also gives the VA Secretary the
authority to appoint new medical directors at VA
hospitals -- something which was almost
impossible to do in the past.
And these are going to be talented, talented people.
I applaud Chairman Phil Roe and the members of
Congress here with us today -- which we have
many -- who fought so hard for this legislation.
And I want them up here when I sign.
And I just want to thank the members of Congress.
They have been really dedicated to getting this done.
It was not easy for them either.
(Applause.)
Thank you.
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you.
Our very sincere gratitude as well to the veteran
service organizations who have joined us for this
tremendous occasion -- and for everything they do for
the veterans -- and for so long.
They've been fighting for this and other things so
long -- and by the way, other things are happening.
We've done a lot.
This is a big one.
We have a lot of good ones coming.
I also want to express our appreciation for Secretary
Shulkin, who is implementing the dramatic
reform throughout the VA.
It's got to be implemented.
If it's not properly implemented it will never
mean the same thing.
But I have no doubt it will be properly implemented.
Right, David?
Better be, David.
(Applause.)
We'll never have to use those words.
(Laughter.)
We'll never have to use those words on
our David.
(Laughter.)
We will never use those words on you,
that's for sure.
(Laughter.)
That one never fails, does it, Tom?
(Laughter.)
Since my first day in office, we've taken one
action after another to ensure our veterans -- and
make sure, have to make sure -- that they get
world-class care and the kind of care that they've
been promised by so many different people
for so many years.
We've created a new Office of Accountability at the
VA, which will empower -- and really has been
empowered by this legislation.
We've launched a new website that publishes
wait times at every VA hospital.
We've delivered same-day mental health services at
all 168 VA medical centers.
That's a big operation when you think of it.
We've announced that the VA will finally solve a
problem that has plagued our government for decades
-- seamlessly transferring veterans' medical records
from the Department of Defense to the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
(Applause.)
That doesn't sound like such a big deal.
It is -- believe.
That was a big one.
We thought this would be easy, but the people, like
David and all that have been here and understand
the system, he said that's going to be a tough one.
We got it done.
So that was a good one.
But it is something we're very proud to have been
able to do it this quickly.
I've also signed the Veterans Choice
Improvement Act so that more veterans can see the
doctor of their choice.
Already this year, using the Choice Program,
veterans have received nearly double the number
of approvals to see the doctor of their choosing.
And this is only the beginning.
We will not rest until the job is 100 percent
complete for our great veterans.
(Applause.)
We can all be inspired by the story of a
retired Air Force veteran, named Earl Morse, who
served as a physician's assistant at the VA
Centers in Ohio and Indiana.
Thirteen years ago, Earl began asking his patients
if they planned to visit the new World War II
Memorial -- which is beautiful -- right here in
Washington, D.C.
Nearly all said they planned to visit.
But when he saw these patients at their next
appointment, almost none of them had made the trip.
One day, he had an idea -- Earl is a private pilot.
He asked one of his patients, who was a World
War II veteran, if he could fly with
him to the memorial.
He was so honored to do it.
The 80-year-old veteran wept; openly cried.
He never imagined he would see that beautiful
monument to his service.
That is how the first Honor Flight was born.
Honor Flight -- a very beautiful thing.
Since then, over 100,000 veterans have been greeted
with cheers of gratitude as they arrive in our
nation's capital.
We want all of American veterans -- all of them,
every one of them -- to experience and to at least
have the opportunity to experience that same
gratitude every time they walk into the VA.
That's what today is all about: keeping our
promises to those who have kept us free, kept us
happy, saved our lives and saved our families.
So I just want to thank you, our incredible veterans.
better support and serve you every single day.
Thank you.
God bless you.
God bless our veterans.
And God bless America.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
So this is something that we are all very proud to
be signing.
It's a tremendous honor for me.
It's a tremendous honor for everybody on stage.
And we're taking care of our veterans, and we're
taking care of them properly.
Thank you, David.
Congratulations.
Thank you again.