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Business Meeting on the Nomination of the Honorable Douglas A. Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

January 23, 2025 (recording here)

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

• Chairman Jerry Moran spoke in support of VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins and recommended reporting him favorably out of committee. He pointed to Mr. Collins’s experience in the military and Congress, and he appreciated the nominee’s responses during his hearing earlier in the week. The Chairman highlighted his belief in Mr. Collins’s transparency and commitment to veterans, encouraging his colleagues to advance the nomination to the full chamber.

• Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal also supported Mr. Collins’s nomination. He expressed hope that the nominee would be the kind of Secretary needed to help homeless veterans, prevent veteran suicide, and continue the legacy of the PACT Act. The Ranking Member believes that Mr. Collins will be a dedicated advocate for veterans in a fiscally challenging time, and he looks forward to working with him to improve veterans’ services throughout his tenure. He then mentioned his concern with the administration’s hiring freeze, underscoring the importance of continuing benefits delivery for veterans.

• The nomination of Doug Collins for Secretary of the VA was put to a vote and favorably voted out of committee with most members’ support.

• Sen. Mazie Hirono voted against the nomination, citing concerns about overturning the VA’s rule on abortion and privatizing VA healthcare. She claimed she would work with Mr. Collins if he was confirmed, despite it not being her or her constituents’ will, to improve the quality of life for veterans across the country.

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