BURLINGTON, Vt., June 29 – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the White House indicated that President Barack Obama intends to nominate Robert McDonald to be secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs:

“The VA needs significantly improved transparency and accountability and it needs an increased number of doctors, nurses and other medical staff so that all eligible veterans get high-quality health care in a timely manner. I look forward to meeting with Mr. McDonald next week in order to ascertain his views on these important issues.”