One year ago this summer, America woke up to learn that a sacred trust between our government and its war veterans had been shattered. Reports of secret VA wait lists, whistleblower retaliations and veteran patients dying while waiting to see a doctor rocked the country and its veterans.

While most Americans have since moved on, the wounds are still raw within the veteran community. What’s worse is that few VA employees have been held accountable for their negligence. Not only has no one gone to jail, only two employees have been fired over their role in the VA scandal.

IAVA members depend on quality and timely VA health care. Yet, in too many cases VA still drops the ball. When Iraq war veteran and IAVA staff member Chris Neiweem made an appointment at Washington, D.C.'s VA Hospital, he was told he could not see a doctor for nearly 60 days. And we know many veterans are forced to wait longer.

VA must redouble its efforts to get health care access issues fixed, ensure current employees are trained in the latest procedures, and remove those who are unwilling to provide quality care.

The fact is: true VA reform is not possible while negligent bureaucrats remain on the public payroll. Sign IAVA’s petition calling for Congress to help hold VA employees accountable.

In June 2014, IAVA called on President Obama and Congress to execute a new Marshall Plan for Veterans: a bold, comprehensive effort to restore confidence in the VA. As part of that plan, IAVA called for full criminal investigations for those bad actors who ruined the reputation of the VA and harmed its veteran patients.

Those who have violated America’s sacred trust with our veterans must be rooted out nationwide and held accountable, which is why IAVA supports legislation to give VA the tools to hold negligent bureaucrats accountable and cleanse them from the VA workforce.

VA Secretary McDonald needs the authority to remove any VA employee based on performance or misconduct, and protect whistleblowers who expose mismanagement within the Department.

Please sign IAVA’s petition calling on Congress to support veterans by holding VA employees accountable for their actions.

Our veterans fought for this country. They shouldn’t need to fight for accountability at the VA.