U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and VA secretary nominee Dr. David Shulkin discuss shared priorities for the VA on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today met with Dr. David Shulkin, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to discuss his priorities for leading the second largest agency in the federal government. Shulkin is currently serving as the undersecretary for health at the department, a position he held in the Obama administration.

“As the undersecretary for health at the VA, Dr. Shulkin is no stranger to the work that needs to be done to bring accountability to the department,” said Isakson. “Dr. Shulkin’s overwhelming approval by the Senate in 2015 demonstrates the kind of broad, bipartisan support that I expect to see this time for his confirmation as secretary of the VA. I believe Dr. Shulkin to be a passionate veterans advocate who will work to transform the VA and ensure our veterans get the timely, quality care and support they deserve. I look forward to chairing his confirmation hearing.”

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a hearing on Dr. Shulkin’s nomination on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. 

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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.