U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) July 9 led a bipartisan coalition of members from the Wisconsin Delegation in urging the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to advance the Inspector General Transparency Act, legislation he introduced to ensure a situation like Tomah never happens again.

 “In light of the recent resignation of the acting inspector general it is time to take the necessary steps to increase transparency in the VA Inspector General’s office. I am proud to join a bipartisan group of my Wisconsin colleagues to request the House Oversight Committee to pass my legislation to ensure greater transparency in the Office of the Inspector General,” Kind said. “Providing quality care for our veterans is not a partisan issue. Working together to ensure greater transparency in not only the VA system, but all federal agencies, we can make sure the tragic events at Tomah are never repeated.”

U.S. Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI),  Gwen Moore (D-WI), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Reid Ribble (R-WI), and Sean Duffy (R-WI) all signed onto the letter, addressed to Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

The bipartisan Inspectors General Transparency Act of 2015 amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require that, no later than three days after completion, all Office of inspector General (OIG) reports are published on the OIG website and submitted to the head of the establishment under investigation, the individual or entity requesting the investigation, the Senate Committees on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Appropriations, the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Appropriations, Congressional committees of jurisdiction, and Members of Congress upon request.