I come to the floor to speak about the nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs that we’ll be voting on in a couple hours.
I have long considered myself a friend of veterans.
The men and women who have put themselves in harm’s way to serve our country – they deserve our full support, and they have mine.
Too often, I hear from veterans in Iowa that the Department of Veterans Affairs makes it difficult for them to access health care and the services that we honor them with because they defended our country.
Whether this is expecting them to drive an unnecessary distance for their initial disability exam or making it more difficult to seek the care they choose outside of the VA system – our veterans deserve much better and the VA needs to do better.
Which brings me to former-Representative Doug Collins, President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Representative Collins, a veteran himself, recognizes the challenges veterans face with the VA.
During his time in the House of Representatives, he was 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.
This became more obvious to the public last year when the VA misled Congress by claiming the department was going to face a shortfall in funding, but in fact ended the fiscal year with a surplus in the billions.
When I heard about this alleged “shortfall,” I joined my colleagues, led by the junior senator from Alaska, to work to bring more transparency to the VA budget process.
As I shared with Representative Collins, I will continue to do so.
When we first met in my office, I gave Representative Collins my advice that I give to every nominee coming to my office – because these people come before the committee and one of the questions they’re asked is, “Will you answer our letters?” They all say “yes,” but we know as a matter of fact that doesn’t happen as often as it should.
So, I suggested to him that, instead of saying “yes,” he should say, “maybe,” so he wouldn’t turn out to be a liar.
Unlike the former-Secretary of the VA – who didn’t feel the need to respond to even a bipartisan letter that I sent in October 2024, alongside three of my colleagues – Representative Collins understands the importance of being accountable and forthcoming to Congress because he’s been a member of Congress.
I thank Representative Collins for his service to our country and I look forward to voting positively on his nomination.
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