Mast Demands VA Allow Congressional Office Representation at West Palm Beach Medical Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12) called on Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to restore access to congressional office space at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center to better assist veterans with their casework requests.

"Veterans deserve the best care possible and that includes getting help navigating the bureaucratic maze at the exact spot they run into a problem," said Congressman Mast. "We had a congressional office housed at the West Palm Beach that helped over 500 veterans until we were rudely evicted by the VA for no good reason. This has adversely impacted our ability to help veterans, and the VA should immediately reverse its decision and make space available."

"Congressional offices provide invaluable casework support for veterans and their families as they navigate their VA benefits," said Chairman Bost. "Which is why I am proud to join my fellow veteran, Rep. Mast, in sending this letter to hold VA Secretary Denis McDonough accountable for congressional office space access at the West Palm Beach VA medical center. We must ensure that all veterans, including those in southeast Florida, have every option available to them to get the healthcare and benefits support they may need."

Congressman Mast opened the first-ever congressional office housed in a VA facility in 2017. In the roughly two years that Congressman Mast held office hours in the West Palm VA Medical Center, over 500 veterans took advantage of the opportunity to meet with the congressman and members of his team. Many of those served suffered from mobility issues that would make traveling to a separate office difficult. The office also allowed for close oversight of the VA and to identify problems promptly.

In 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs evicted Congressman Mast and two other members of Congress, citing that VA facilities should be used for medical care and services.

Despite this claim, not all the spaces in the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center are used for medical care and services. In fact, according to witnesses, the space previously used as Congressman Mast's office is now used to house janitorial supplies. In addition, recent reports allege that VA is even planning to use VA facilities to assist with the Biden-Harris administration's voter registration efforts.

Earlier in January 2023, Congressman Mast introduced the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act, which would require the VA to allow a Member of Congress to use a facility in order to meet with constituents and hold office hours. This bipartisan bill currently has 34 cosponsors.

The full text of the letter is available here.

###