WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) – ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – today released the following statement on the nomination of Denis McDonough to be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

“Mr. McDonough has demonstrated his dedication to public service over the last 25 years and has assured me that he will bring that same dedication to the Department of Veterans Affairs in its mission to serve our veterans. This nominee has committed to me and to our committee that he will faithfully implement critical reforms in line with congressional intent, and I intend to hold him accountable for the decisions and actions he makes as secretary.

“We have made far too many advances – giving VA the tools it needs to address veterans’ choice in access to care, mental health and suicide prevention, employee accountability, and the delivery of benefits to veterans, their dependents and survivors – for there to be any retreat. I will support Mr. McDonough’s confirmation and hold him to his commitment to work with our committee and with our veteran stakeholders to deliver the improved benefits and services Congress has legislated.”