January 10, 2017

Tammy Duckworth Statement on the Nomination of Dr. David Shulkin to be VA Secretary

 

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces and still receives her own healthcare services through the VA, issued the following statement regarding Dr. David Shulkin's nomination to be the next U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A photo of Senator Duckworth meeting with Dr. Shulkin and current VA Secretary Bob McDonald last year when she was a Congresswoman is available here.

"Dr. Shulkin's nomination to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs is an encouraging signal and I hope to have the opportunity to meet with him again before his confirmation hearing. I've seen him use his breadth of experience across the healthcare field to help guide VA through one of its most difficult periods, and I've appreciated his willingness to work with me in the past to improve access, timeliness and quality of Veteran care. Now that he has been nominated to head the agency, Dr. Shulkin owes it to all Veterans to commit to preventing the next Administration from implementing any plan to privatize VA. He must also continue improving VA services, from mental health care for those who served in all of our conflicts to ensuring that those with toxic exposures-whether from Agent Orange in Vietnam or other agents in the Gulf-receive the care they need and have earned. I am hopeful that, if confirmed, we can continue working together to fully deliver on the promises this country made to the brave Americans that fought to defend it."