The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Dug Collins as the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, putting former Congressman and Iraq War veteran at the top of a department that provides significant care to American veterans.
Air Force Chaplin, Collins was confirmed at 77–23 votes, which became the latest addition to President Donald Trump’s cabinet.
Trump said in a November statement, “We should take care of our brave men and women uniforms, and Doug will be a great lawyer for our active duty service members, veterans and military families to ensure that they can be ensured that They need support. ” Nomination of Colins.
The department of veteran cases manages more than $ 350 billion budget and oversees around 200 medical centers and hospitals. Hence the national cemeteries manage and work closely with the Department of Defense on the matters of personnel.
Coalins has promised to cut the rules in the department and increase the quality of veterans’ care.
The challenges faced by the department have developed in recent years, in which a younger generation veterans have brought new health challenges with their service in Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
“I am an Iraq’s legend. I understand burn pits because I slept next to one for several months,” Colins said in his initial comment during his January confirmation hearing. Coalins said that today understands the challenges faced by veterans who “time and time have gone back, posting after deployment” in the struggle areas.
Colins served in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021. He has served as a conservative in the Georgia State Legislature since his time and was a close associate during the President’s first term. He failed to the Senate in 2020, but lost Republican Primary to Kelly Lofler, a prominent GOP donor, which Trump has tapped to lead the US Small Business Association.
Senator Kevin Craermer, a Republican of North Dakota, called Colins a “friend”, who has to “attract” personality “to attract people who are working on him. ,
“It’s not that they say better doctors or better psychiatrists or better nurses or technicians. It is sympathetic,” Kramer said. “When they appreciate access to community care, they appreciate the sympathy of a fellow experienced, and bring ideas. But, friends, he is a pastor. I mean, come, come, how right?”
The nomination of Collins left through the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in 18–1 votes. Mazi Hirono, a Democrat Senator at Hawaii, said the loan disaster, said coalins were worried that breeding care would limit access to abortion for IVF or veterans.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, for Illinois Democrat, said that he confirmed a productive conversation with Collins during the hearing, but he pressurized him whether he was committed to work with the Congress, which “strength and sophisticated” to the department. To do “I can resort to privatization.”
Coalins said that he would focus on addressing waiting time and increasing preventive care.
