WASHINGTON - An Ohio congressman said yesterday he will sue Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi for failing to publicize information about health care benefits and services to veterans and their families.
Last summer, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs halted all efforts aimed at enrolling new veterans into the health care system because of a budget crunch - a move that drew criticism.
Citing a tight budget and overwhelming demand, the department said in a memo that marketing health care services at health fairs, open houses or enrollment displays at veterans meetings was inappropriate. It also banned mailings or newspaper ads encouraging veterans to enroll.
Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, said a congressional mandate requires the agency to perform these outreach activities.
When Congress passes laws giving certain benefits to veterans
for the VA to ... decide it's going to take action that's basically going to withhold information from veterans it is an outrageous action said Strickland, who is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Strickland and Thomas Corey, president of Vietnam Veterans of America, plan to file the lawsuit before holding a news conference this morning.
A spokesman at the VA did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
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