pic13

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met with southwest Ohio veterans at Tristate Veterans Community Alliance to hear directly from them as he considers President Trump’s nominee to serve as head of the VA.

Earlier this year, President Trump fired VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. This week, Brown met with President Trump’s nominee to replace Shulkin, Dr. Ronny Jackson, in the Senator’s office. At Brown’s urging, Jackson committed to oppose efforts to privatize VA. Brown said Jackson must now make that same commitment to veterans in his public hearing before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and earn the support of the veterans’ community. Brown said Jackson must also commit to actively work to strengthen and improve VA for the veterans it serves.

“Dr. Jackson said a lot of the right things – now he needs to make those same commitments in public, at his hearing before us on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee,” said Brown. “To convince me, he must also convince the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the VFW and others groups representing veterans. We know we have work to do to improve the VA system. But privatizing it isn’t the answer.”

Brown hosted Ohio veterans and veteran advocates at the roundtable to discuss VA privatization.

“When I hear the word ‘privatization,’ I know that it REALLY means ‘profitization,’ whether schools, prisons or the VA. I receive all my healthcare from the Cincinnati VA and wish that everybody received the level of quality care I receive there,” said Victoria Parks, a Cincinnati-area veteran. 

Brown will continue to question Jackson when he comes before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee next week on what he’ll do to improve VA healthcare for Ohio veterans, strengthen the VA workforce, and expand benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service.

Brown is the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Ohio on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 

###