September 8, 2005

Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson will brief members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs today, Thursday, September 8, beginning at 4:15 p.m. Eastern in room 418 of the Senate Russell Building concerning the state of affairs of VA's facilities, patients and employees in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

That briefing is closed to the press.

After the briefing is completed, doors to the hearing room will be opened and the media will be invited in to the hearing room to ask questions of Secretary Nicholson, Committee Chairman Larry Craig, and other members of the committee.

Doors should open around 5 p.m.

Nicholson has been touring the Gulf Coast area with his staff and should be able to provide the latest information from that hard hit area.

The Secretary will likely be accompanied by Under Secretary for Health Dr. Jonathon Perlin, Under Secretary for Benefits Daniel L. Cooper, and Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Richard A. Wannemacher Jr.

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