Treasure Coast Sun

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12) have called on Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to restore access to congressional office space at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. The request aims to enhance assistance for 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.”

Chairman Bost echoed these sentiments, stating, “Congressional offices provide invaluable casework support for veterans and their families as they navigate their VA benefits. 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 within a VA facility in 2017. During his tenure of approximately two years at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, over 500 veterans utilized this service. Many of these individuals faced mobility issues that made traveling to a separate office challenging. The presence of this office also facilitated close oversight of the VA and prompt identification of problems.

In 2019, however, the Department of Veterans Affairs evicted Congressman Mast and two other members of Congress from their offices within VA facilities, arguing that such spaces should be reserved for medical care and services.

Contrary to this claim, not all areas within the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center are used exclusively for medical purposes. Witnesses report that Congressman Mast’s former office now houses janitorial supplies. Additionally, recent reports suggest that some VA facilities may be repurposed to assist with voter registration efforts under the Biden-Harris administration.

In January 2023, Congressman Mast introduced the Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act. This legislation would mandate that Members of Congress be allowed to use VA facilities for constituent meetings and office hours. The bipartisan bill currently has 34 cosponsors.

The full text of their letter is available here.

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