WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown – a senior member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and a member of the 2014 veterans’ conference committee – introduced Robert “Bob” McDonald before the committee. McDonald, a veteran of the U.S. Army and former CEO of Procter and Gamble, is the nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In June, Brown called for swift passage of the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 and outlined how this legislation would cut down wait times by expanding available medical services for veterans, provide additional funding to the VA for the training and hiring of new medical staff to help address systemwide shortages, and empower the VA Secretary to remove senior officials, helping reestablish accountability within the Department. 

Brown was appointed to the first Senate-House conference committee in fifteen years to address veterans’ legislation.  As the only Ohio Senator to serve a full term on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Brown has introduced a package of key legislative proposals aimed at addressing issues facing Ohio veterans.

Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are as follows:

Senator Brown’s Introduction of Bob McDonald, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Thank you, Mr. Chairman for scheduling this important hearing today.

I’m proud to be here today to introduce Bob McDonald, a fellow Ohioan, to this committee.

In the last few months, I’ve received letters and calls from Ohioans about fixing the VA system for our veterans.

They are outraged and disillusioned with the VA.

They are rightfully angry with a system charged with caring for those who have defended our nation.

There has been a failure of leadership and accountability – and it is up to us to fix this.

Our commitment to our veterans must match their commitment to our nation.

We must do better than we have, and I believe that if confirmed as Secretary, Bob McDonald will help chart a new course for the VA. 

In our first meeting two weeks ago, Mr. McDonald talked about his time at West Point and as a paratrooper.  He discussed the honor code in the military – and how that sense of integrity needs to permeate the VA.

In our meeting, he outlined his initial observations about what is needed to tackle the issues facing the VA.  He outlined a number of steps including:

-          Reexamining VA employee evaluations to ensure that all employees collaborate with the VA’s mission statement;

-          Restoring accountability among the VA’s senior executives; and

-          Ensuring the focus of the entire department always remains on our veterans.

I am confident that he will work with this committee to help rebuild and repair the VA.

 

Whether it’s in Cincinnati, Chillicothe or Dayton, or anywhere else in America, our commitment to our veterans must match their commitment to our nation.

As a graduate of West Point and as an Army captain, Mr. McDonald has led men and women like those receiving care at the VA.

And as a business executive, he has led a multi-billion dollar corporation through the Great Recession.

Adept at navigating complex situations, Mr. McDonald will now will lead the federal department tasked with fulfilling our obligations to our veterans.

I applaud his willingness to serve his country again, and I am confident in his character and abilities to do so. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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