House chairman disappointed in VA addresssing spinal injury [Video]

WASHINGTON — The Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee says he is “incredibly disappointed” with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

At issue– what Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois) says was the department’s “failure to fully participate” in a hearing on care for veterans with spinal cord injuries.

“The VA should have prioritized having someone here,” he said.

Bost last week sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, expressing his disappointment and noting he was “not surprised.”

Bost said this was the third time this calendar year that the VA has failed to provide requested witnesses to House Veterans Affairs Committee hearings.

“That’s not fair to the veterans. It’s not fair to the taxpayers. What you need to understand is we are the Congress of the United States. You are an agency. Yes, an agency controlled by the …