01/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/09/2025 15:09
Committee's top Democrat pushed VA Secretary nominee to serve all veterans, continue implementation of the PACT Act, and not pursue harmful policies to privatize VA or strip away veterans' reproductive rights
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, met with Doug Collins, the presumptive nominee to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to discuss his plans to serve America's veterans and their families.=
"I made clear to Doug Collins that VA needs a leader who is willing to protect and expand the health care and benefits our veterans have earned," said Blumenthal. "That means strongly supporting VA employees, continuing to implement the PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans and their families, and utilizing every resource possible to combat veteran suicide. It also means not pursuing harmful policies to privatize VA or strip away veterans' reproductive rights. We need to fight to maintain the progress we've made for veterans these last four years. Based on our conversation, I am hopeful that Collins will provide his vision to support veterans in Connecticut and across the country at his nomination hearing - and argue why he's the right candidate for the job."
President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Collins to be VA Secretary on November 14, 2024. Blumenthal and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee are expected to hold a nomination hearing to consider Collins next week.
-30-