Senator Collins' Statement On Confirmation Of Bob McDonald As VA Secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, today voted in favor of Robert McDonald’s nomination to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“As a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and expert leader of a large corporation, Mr. McDonald is well aware of the serious challenges facing the VA today,” Senator Collins said. “I appreciate that he indicated that he is eager to address not only the problems, but also work to improve programs, like the ARCH pilot program in Northern Maine, that are providing critical health care services to our nation’s veterans in their own communities.”
Senator Collins has invited Secretary McDonald to visit Cary Medical Center in Caribou to see first-hand how the ARCH program is working and why it should be a model for the nation with respect to improving access to health care among rural veterans. Earlier this year, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senator Collins’ request for $35 million to extend this successful program.
“As a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and expert leader of a large corporation, Mr. McDonald is well aware of the serious challenges facing the VA today,” Senator Collins said. “I appreciate that he indicated that he is eager to address not only the problems, but also work to improve programs, like the ARCH pilot program in Northern Maine, that are providing critical health care services to our nation’s veterans in their own communities.”
Senator Collins has invited Secretary McDonald to visit Cary Medical Center in Caribou to see first-hand how the ARCH program is working and why it should be a model for the nation with respect to improving access to health care among rural veterans. Earlier this year, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senator Collins’ request for $35 million to extend this successful program.
