Senator Murray in letter to Secretary Collins: “Over the thirty years I have represented Washington state, VA has approved and hosted countless outreach events with me… I was surprised and dismayed to find out this month that my office had been suddenly denied permission to hold a roundtable for women veterans to be able to talk about their own health care experiences, and concerns related to continued access to services.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins expressing concern and dismay over the unprecedented refusal—with no justification—by VA to allow VA Puget Sound to participate in a roundtable discussion Senator Murray is holding in Seattle tomorrow on women veterans’ health care. In the hearing on his nomination to lead VA and in his meeting with Senator Murray ahead of the Senate vote on his nomination, Doug Collins promised to be transparent with Congress if confirmed.
“Throughout my time in Congress, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, I have been able to have open and honest conversations with VA and engage with my veteran constituents in Washington state,” Senator Murray wrote in her letter to Secretary Collins. “However, this administration has proven to be vastly different—VA is now providing little to no information in response to congressional inquiries and VA providers are being prevented from getting the opportunity to hear directly from veterans about their health care experience.”
Murray continued, “VA has approved and hosted countless outreach events with me, including roundtables, on VA property to talk about everything from the implementation of the PACT Act to VA’s advancements in prosthetics care. All these events have been compliant with the Hatch Act. So, I was surprised and dismayed to find out this month that my office had been suddenly denied permission to hold a roundtable for women veterans to be able to talk about their own health care experiences, and concerns related to continued access to services. Furthermore, the VA provided no rationale to justify this denial.”
“This roundtable was designed to give providers, women veterans, and VA staff a chance to come together, in a space they all know and trust, to talk about the current state of women’s health care and ensure an ongoing conversation on the importance of prioritizing gender-specific health care services at VA… We owe women veterans the opportunity to have a say in how VA can best deliver their health care to them—and VA Puget Sound has a robust women’s health program that is worth showcasing,” Murray wrote. “From the abrupt mass firing of tens of thousands of VA employees, to the refusal to meaningfully engage with Congress, I am left to conclude that this administration is committed to putting up barriers that only make it harder for women veterans—and all veterans—to receive the care they deserve.”
Senator Murray concluded by requesting answers to the following questions by May 16th, noting her concern with VA’s lack of transparency on the decision to deny her request to host a women veterans’ roundtable at VA Puget Sound, and growing concern with VA politicizing constituent services and congressional oversight:
- Plainly, why was the request refused?
- At what level was the request refused –VISN, VHA headquarters, or by VA central office political leadership?
- Was VA’s refusal based in any way due to the due to the event’s focus on women veterans?
- Has VA approved outreach activities at other VA facilities since January 22, 2025 which have involved other Members of Congress?
- If so, which Members, which facilities, and what is the distinction between those events and this planned event?
- What has caused VA to shift away from its previous policy regarding hosting on-campus events?
- Please provide a copy of the new policy, guidance, directive, or memo.
- What does VA define as an “outreach” activity?
- What would be considered an approved outreach activity?
- Will Congressional visits, tours, or in-person oversight actions of any kind no longer be allowed?
- What kind of in-person engagement will be allowable for the administration?
In February 2024, Senator Murray hosted a roundtable discussion on improving health care for women veterans where she heard directly from VA officials as well as women veterans and Veteran Service Organizations. Senator Murray has hosted countless other events in conjunction with VA Puget Sound over the years.
A PDF of the letter is available HERE.
###
