Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), senior member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after President Obama nominated Robert “Bob” McDonald to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I applaud President Obama for his selection of Bob McDonald to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs at this most critical time.
“His successful management and leadership track record, combined with his commitment and service to our nation’s men and women in uniform, are essential to address both the immediate and long-term challenges at the VA.
“These are challenges that will not be solved through legislation alone or by simply replacing the Secretary. However, I am hopeful today’s announcement will spark long-overdue change from the top-down in order to ensure our veterans are getting the care and support they expect and deserve.
“When it comes to caring for our nation’s heroes, we cannot accept anything less than excellence. As I work with my House and Senate colleagues on the conference committee to address some of the immediate accountability and transparency concerns plaguing the VA, I look forward to hearing from Mr. McDonald on how he plans to fix the Department’s deep-seated structural and cultural challenges.
“We made a promise to our nation’s heroes who answered the call of duty and I am hopeful Mr. McDonald shares that commitment.”
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