Rep. Greg Steube slammed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for its apparent catering to illegal immigrants at the expense of providing care for military veterans.
In an email to constituents on Sunday, the Sarasota Republican noted that he was one of nearly two dozen GOP lawmakers who want VA Secretary Denis McDonough to explain why resources intended for former troops were instead diverted to process medical claims for illegal immigrants.
“The VA should be 100% focused on those who served our country honorably – not illegal immigrants who break our nation’s laws,” Steube said in the email.
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Overall, 23 Republicans signed the letter to McDonough demanding answers why vets were given a back seat to illegals.
“It is our duty to provide veterans with quality care, but the VA has been a total failure for so many of our veterans. Many veterans fight with the VA for years to get help. Some never receive it,” Steube said at the time.
“That’s why you can imagine how much of an absurdity it is for our veterans to learn that the VA has been involved in processing medical claims for illegal immigrants.”
The issue came to light from news reports earlier this month.
In addition to the House letter, GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama last week filed the “No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act,” seeking to block VA resources being used to care for illegals.
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Steube added that he hoped McDonough would have answers for this “troublesome arrangement.”
In the letter itself, the GOP lawmakers noted, “The VA exists to serve American veterans who risked their lives to protect our great country. For far too long, the VA has fallen short in its mission ‘To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.’ Veterans have experienced unacceptable wait times in receiving medical care and disability benefits.”
“Congress appropriates funds to the VA in order to provide services to our veterans, not illegal immigrants. Our veterans served our country, and it is high time that our government start serving them.”
The lawmakers pressed McDonough to explain how many claims the VA Financial Services Center has processed for Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a monthly basis since Joe Biden took office, and how many hours VA personnel spent processing those claims.
They also sought to know if claims submitted to care for VA beneficiaries are processed before “any other” claims handled serviced by the VA, and whether the VA is providing any other services to federal agencies involving illegal immigrants.
Other GOP lawmakers from Florida who co-signed the letter included Reps. Daniel Webster of Clermont and Aaron Bean of Jacksonville.
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