Department of Veterans Affairs

VA reform bill backed by Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson headed to Donald Trump

Published on June 14, 2017 in Statewide by Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

A bill to reform the Department of Veterans of Affairs is heading to President Donald Trump, after the U.S. House of Representatives approved it this week. The House voted 368-55 on Tuesday to approve the the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, gives the VA secretary the authority to fire and demote employees. It also adds protections for whistleblowers, by prohibiting the secretary from using his or her authority…

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Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson backed VA reform bill clears the Senate

Published on June 8, 2017 in 2017 by Staff Reports

A bipartisan bill to reform the Department of Veterans of Affairs by allowing the secretary to dismiss bad employees is headed to the U.S. House, after clearing the Senate on a voice vote this week. Sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act gives the VA secretary the authority to fire and demote employees. It also adds protections for whistleblowers, by prohibiting the secretary from using his or her authority to fire…

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Report: Jeff Miller among those being considered to head the V.A.

Published on November 16, 2016 in 2017 by Staff Reports

One of the Department of Veterans Affairs fiercest critics is being considered to run the agency. The New York Times reported Tuesday that Donald Trump has said he is considering Rep. Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican, to run the Department of Veteran Affairs. Miller is retiring at the end of his term after serving eight terms in the U.S. House. Miller was named chairman of the House Veterans Affairs committee in 2011. He was an early supporter of Trump’s, helped…

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Senate passes stopgap spending bill with $1.1 billion to fight Zika

Published on September 29, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Associated Press

Averting an election-year crisis, the Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to keep the government operating through Dec. 9 and provide $1.1 billion in long-delayed funding to battle the Zika virus. The House was poised to act on the measure before day’s end. The sweeping 72-26 vote came after top congressional leaders broke through a stalemate over aid to help Flint, Michigan, address its water crisis. Democratic advocates for Flint are now satisfied with Republican assurances that money for Flint…

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Glenn Sutphin appointed state vets’ agency head

Published on August 2, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

Glenn Sutphin, now the agency’s interim head, will become the next permanent director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet made the hire at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The 67-year-old Sutphin, himself a National Guardsman for over 30 years, was the only person interviewed for the position out of more than 300 applicants. He told Cabinet members he wants the state to focus on building more nursing homes for veterans and doing more outreach to let them know what benefits…

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Rick Scott selects Lt. Col. Glenn Sutphin as interim head of Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Published on April 8, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

Gov. Rick Scott has nominated Lt. Col. Glenn Sutphin to serve as the interim executive director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Sutphin has served as the chief of staff and legislative affairs director for the Department of Military Affairs since 1999. He served in the Florida National Guard as U.S. Army Officer and a Field Artillery Office for more than 30 years. While he was a guardsman, Sutphin served as the Desoto County Development Director. “Glenn has done a…

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Hillary Clinton targeted in ad from group tied to Koch brothers

Published on November 6, 2015 in 2017/Top Headlines by Associated Press

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday makes her first appearance in a negative advertisement funded by the wealthy Republican donors tied to billionaires Charles and David Koch. A 30-second ad aimed at Internet users in South Carolina and Florida shows headlines about the number of veterans who have died while awaiting health care. Then it shows a recent MSNBC interview with Clinton, who said of problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, “It’s not been widespread as it…

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