In what is likely one of the strongest confirmations in the Trump administration’s cabinet, former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins – and one-time Georgia Senate candidate – was confirmed by a vote of 77-23 to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as Secretary. Among those voting in favor was Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, D-GA, who noted he met with Collins during the confirmation process to discuss key priorities for improving the VA.
Ossoff serves as the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, the committee that oversees the VA budget.
“I congratulate Congressman Collins on his confirmation as our next VA Secretary and look forward to working with him to ensure Georgia’s veterans receive the care, support, and respect they’ve earned,” said Ossoff.
Among the items Ossoff is concerned with were wait times for community care appointments, strengthening mental health care services and expanding access to benefits in underserved areas. Ossoff has already passed legislation aimed at clearing the backlog of veterans’ records requests, expanding those mental health care services and extending VA health benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. That last one was specifically targeted, throught the PACT Act, towards veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.
“Rep. Collins, a veteran himself, recognizes the challenges veterans face with the VA,” said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-IA. “During his time in the House of Representatives, he was a supporter of giving veterans the choice on where to seek health care. He and I agree that the VA needs to do better by our veterans and taxpayers alike.”
Collins assumes the mantle at the VA when the agency has seen hundreds of thousands of additional veterans sign up for VA health care, largely through the aforementioned PACT Act. Collins has pledged that he would open up covered care for veterans outside of the traditional VA system, something that may be difficult considering the budget shortfalls that were already hamstringing the agency but have now been exacerbated by the additional patients from the PACT Act.
Collins’ former congressional colleague Rep. Rick Allen, R-GA, also put out a statement congratulating Collins on his confirmation.
“I congratulate Doug Collins on his confirmation to serve as our nation’s Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As a veteran himself and a dedicated public servant, Doug will undoubtedly fight to ensure America’s veterans receive the quality care they deserve. Today’s Senate confirmation vote is a win for those who have answered the call to defend our freedoms at home and abroad.”
