01.11.17

Sullivan Statement On VA Secretary Nominee Dr. David Shulkin

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on President-elect Trump’s intent to nominate current Veterans Affairs Undersecretary of Health, David Shulkin, to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“As part of his confirmation process in 2015, I invited Dr. Shulkin to Alaska so that he could see and hear from Alaska veterans, and understand the barriers and unique challenges of our state,” said Senator Sullivan. “I look forward to building upon the working relationship he and I have had since his confirmation in 2015.

“As the current chief executive of the Veterans Health Administration, Dr. Shulkin builds upon decades of private sector experience, in addition to getting a head start on tackling the bureaucracy currently plaguing the VA. There is still much work to be done. In order to inspire the change that is so desperately needed, there needs to be a fundamental attitude shift in the way the VA serves our veterans, and that means holding leadership accountable.

“Alaska veterans should know that I will continue to hold the VA's feet to fire until each and every Alaskan veteran gets the healthcare they were promised and deserve. Our nation owes it to them and I am committed to making sure the VA delivers on that debt.”

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