Ernst Statement on VA Secretary Nominee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran, issued a statement today following President-elect Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Dr. David Shulkin to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

“Our nation has an important responsibility to ensure veterans receive the benefits they were promised and a quality of care we can all be proud of. We simply cannot turn our backs on those who served our country, or accept repeated failures from the department that cares for them.

“Over the last few years, some of my priorities for veterans have included: improving access to mental health care to address the unacceptable, ongoing challenges with suicide and addiction issues, expanding access to telehealth, and ensuring the VA management is held accountable for the systemic failures at VA facilities across the nation. I will continue to push tirelessly for these improvements.

“Dr. Shulkin must be willing to take the significant steps needed to vastly improve the department and honor our commitment to veterans and I will be thoroughly vetting him for this position.”

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