WASHINGTON (WV News) — U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on Thursday introduced legislation that would require the secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the use of security cameras in VA medical centers.
The legislation would help better address transparency issues at VAMC’s in light of the slaying of at least seven veterans and attempted murder of an eighth at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center, the senators say.
“Following the troubling news out of the Clarksburg VA, I have remained in close contact with those involved in this investigation to ensure that we not only get answers, but also to make sure situations like this do not occur in the future,” Capito said.
“Our legislation would change this and improve transparency. Specifically, it would provide the Senate with insight on the utilization of security cameras at VA medical centers across the country so we can better-determine how to tackle this issue and ensure patient safety,” Capito said.
“The heinous actions of the former Clarksburg VAMC employee and her recent guilty plea shone a light on oversight issues at the facility, which is why Senator Capito and I are introducing legislation that requires the VA to submit a report on the use of security cameras at VA facilities,” Manchin said.
“Had there been security cameras in place at the facility, veteran lives may have been saved, and we must do everything possible to ensure no more veterans are murdered at VAMC facilities. I will continue working with my colleagues to pass this commonsense legislation to provide veterans and their families with peace of mind,” Manchin said.
Serial killer Reta Mays is awaiting sentencing for seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of assault with intent to commit murder. She gave the veterans deadly injections of insulin that they didn’t need. Mays could face life in prison.
Several lawsuits/notices of lawsuits, most of them filed by Tony O’Dell of Tiano O’Dell in Charleston, have been filed seeking compensation for the families of the dead veterans. Those are pending.