WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today released the following statement after David Shulkin, M.D., was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

“I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed Dr. Shulkin as secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and I look forward to working with him immediately on our committee’s priorities to enhance the Choice Program, decrease wait times in the appeals process and improve health care for our veterans.”

Shulkin was confirmed by a unanimous vote of 100-0.

Just before today’s vote by the full Senate, Isakson led the debate by urging his colleagues to support Dr. Shulkin’s nomination “for our veterans and our country.” Isakson’s remarks can be viewed online here.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate VA Committee since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the military as well as more than 750,000 veterans.