WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, has scheduled two consecutive hearings on President Barack Obama's nominees for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  On Wednesday, April 1, 2009, the Committee will review the nominations W. Scott Gould, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and L. Tammy Duckworth, to be Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.  Their nominations were sent to the Senate on Wednesday, March 11 and Monday, March 16, 2009, respectively.   

The hearing on Mr. Gould's nomination begins at 9:30 a.m., immediately followed by the hearing on Ms. Duckworth.  Both hearings take place in the Committee's hearing room, Russell 418, and will be webcast live at the Committee's website, veterans.senate.gov. 

The Senate has the responsibility under the Constitution to provide advice and consent on Presidential nominees for positions within the Executive branch.  As Chairman of the Committee of jurisdiction over the VA, Akaka leads the Veterans' Affairs Committee in reviewing the President's nominees for positions in the Department.

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March 18, 2009