March 15, 2017

Today, Congressman Jim Bridenstine, a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, voted to protect Second Amendment rights for veterans and restore accountability at the Veterans Administration.

H.R. 1181 would end the Obama Administration’s Veterans Gun Ban by restoring constitutional due process protections for veterans.  VA has reported hundreds of thousands of veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) simply because they have a fiduciary to handle their benefits earned through service.  In 2016 alone, VA registered 32,000 veterans on NICS which prevents them from buying or owning firearms.

Congressman Bridenstine said, “The Obama Administration’s Veterans Gun Ban undermines Second Amendment rights for our veterans and is back-door gun control.  Judges should make mental incapacity determinations subject to due process, not VA bureaucrats.”

H.R. 1259 gives the VA Secretary authority to fire, demote, or suspend VA employees for poor performance or misconduct using expedited procedures.

Congressman Bridenstine said, “While most VA employees work hard to serve our veterans, the VA Secretary should be able to quickly remove and discipline the bad apples.  We need accountability at the VA.  The House has passed similar legislation each year I’ve been in Congress.  There’s no excuse for not getting this legislation to President Trump’s desk.”