WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement today regarding U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric Shinseki’s resignation amid the VA scandal:

“I’ve long said these serious and systemic problems at the VA were never about one individual – and it will not be fixed until the president steps forward to take action and fix this failure on behalf of Americas’ heroes. President Obama must show leadership and give our veterans the care they deserve.”

This week, Blunt visited the John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. and the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Mo. to meet with officials and discuss mental health care at the VA. On May 12, 2014, Blunt joined U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (Mo.) in sending a letter to the VA Secretary and the VA St. Louis Health Care System demanding answers regarding serious allegations of delays and inefficiencies at the John Cochran VA in St. Louis, Mo.