U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, following the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled “Sexual Harassment: Inconsistent and Incomplete Policies and Information Hinder VA’s Efforts to Protect Employees,” Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) joined House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie urging him to expedite implementation of GAO’s seven recommendations to address sexual harassment throughout VA. Written at the request of Chairman Takano, Rep. Kuster, and Reps. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and combat veteran Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the report details VA’s policies and procedures that have hampered efforts to address and prevent harassment between VA employees. Next week, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a joint Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations and Women Veterans Task Force hearing on this illuminating report and how VA can end sexual harassment throughout the agency.

In their letter, the Members wrote, “The Department must make the prevention and addressing of sexual harassment a top priority. This report not only details specific shortcomings in policies and procedures hampering efforts to address and prevent harassment, but also offers seven recommendations the Department can take to address sexual harassment. These deficiencies are startlingly similar to many previously identified regarding patient harassment, particularly inconsistent understanding and application of policy. As an institution that is charged with providing healthcare and benefits to survivors of sexual violence, VA must lead on all fronts at the VA Central Office and in all three admin