Texas congressman announces probe of waste in Waco VA

Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas) pledged a "broad discussion" on the Department of Veterans Affairs' role in mental health research after the revelation that the Waco VA facility wasted millions of dollars purchasing equipment for research it has yet to conduct, according to the Associated Press via the Washington Times. Flores said a congressional panel would begin scheduling hearings in early 2015. An investigation by the Austin-American Statesman found the Waco VA purchased a $3.6 million mobile MRI scanner in 2008, proposing a study involving scanning Fort Hood soldiers pre- and post-deployment; however, researchers have completed no brain research since then, citing concerns about the machine's image quality and breakdowns, the AP reports. Article