October 28, 2005
Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) On Wednesday night, the U.S. Senate approved the nominations of three former Senate staffers to posts within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"I'm pleased for all of these individuals, but one is particularly important to me. Bill Tuerk has been working for me on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and he is an outstanding man. I'm glad that the President selected him, and I'm delighted that the Senate has now confirmed him," said Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

William F. Tuerk, originally from Illinois and now living in Virginia, was approved by the full Senate to be the next Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs. In that capacity he will oversee the nation's extensive national cemetery system for veterans and those who die while still in the full service of their country. For the past 14 years, has worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs in a variety of capacities, including staff director and chief counsel.

The Senate also approved Robert J. Henke to be the next Assistant Secretary for Management. In that capacity he will be responsible for budgetary issues within VA. He is a former staff member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and has most recently been serving as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) for the Department of Defense.

Senators also approved the nomination of Lisette M. Mondello to be the VA's next Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. She was formerly the communications director for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutichison (R-Texas) and has most recently been serving as a senior advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

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