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Congressman Murphy Wants Veterans Affairs to Rescind PA Staff Bonuses

Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy wants Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shineski to rescind more than $100,000 in bonuses given to VA leaders in the wake of a Legionnaire's disease outbreak at Pittsburgh's Veterans Affairs hospitals.

At least five patients died and 21 were sickened from water that wasn't properly treated between February 2011 and November. The family of a sixth veteran who died last year claim in a lawsuit that he was a victim, too, and Murphy included his name among the victims in Thursday's letter to Shineski, asking that the bonuses be rescinded.

VA officials have not responded to Murphy's letter.

Congress plans to hold a hearing on the outbreak Sept. 9 at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. Congress held its first hearing on the matter in Washington, D.C. in February.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.