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VA secretary calls recent weeks challenging

By WTOP Staff

PAULINE JELINEK
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The embattled secretary of Veterans Affairs says recent weeks have been challenging, but his agency takes caring for veterans seriously.

Eric Shinseki is speaking to advocates for homeless veterans. It’s the first time that he has spoken publicly since a scathing inspector general report was released. The report found that about 1,700 veterans in need of care were “at risk of being lost or forgotten” after being kept off an official waiting list.

The investigation found broad and deep-seated problems in the sprawling health care system, which provides medical care to more than 6 million veterans annually.

The retired four-star general received loud applause and a standing ovation when he stepped to the podium to address the group that advocates for homeless veterans.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emergency guide: What you should do to prepare for emergencies

By WTOP Staff
WASHINGTON — Do you know what you'd do if an emergency hits? What if you're at work, your spouse is stuck in traffic and your children are in school? There's no way to plan for every emergency, but you can make sure you're prepared for different scenarios, including making a plan for your family and building a kit of emergency supplies.
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