WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs unanimously approved the nomination of Rear Admiral Patrick W. Dunne (Ret.) to be the Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Benefits.  VA's Veterans Benefits Administration has been without a confirmed Under Secretary since April, when then-Under Secretary Cooper resigned.  Today's vote follows a hearing held last week on Dunne's nomination.   

"Veterans are better served by a confirmed Under Secretary for Benefits than an acting one.  I urge my colleagues in the Senate to confirm Rear Admiral Dunne's nomination before Congress recesses," said Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Committee Chairman.

Before his appointment as Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, Rear Admiral Dunne served as VA's Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning.  Prior to joining VA, Dunne served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 2005. 

Rear Admiral Dunne's nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

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