(U.S. Senate) – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester issued the following statement today after Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough announced a new plan to bolster the Agency’s workforce to provide veterans with timely access to world-class health care and earned benefits:

“I’m glad VA Secretary McDonough is taking steps to ensure VA is an employer of choice for health care and benefits personnel. Veterans deserve the best possible care, and these measures will empower the nation’s largest health care system to hire and keep the best doctors, nurses, and frontline medical staff on its payroll. In the coming weeks, I look forward to unveiling new legislation that’ll build on the Administration’s efforts—making sure these practices are expanded in rural areas where veterans’ access to health care is critically important.”

The Administration outlined ten major steps to invest in VA employees, including an expedited hiring process at the Department, greater flexibilities for employees, enhanced childcare assistance, and measures to bolster employee safety.

A longtime advocate of strengthening VA’s workforce, Chairman Tester is continuing his push to tackle workforce shortages and streamline the delivery of health care and benefits for the nation’s veterans—especially in rural areas. He will be unveiling new legislation in the 117th Congress to improve VA’s workforce by bolstering training, recruitment and retention of Veterans Health Administration employees, expanding financial support for medical and nursing students, increasing oversight over the Department’s hiring authorities, and more.