(U.S. Senate) – Ranking Member Jon Tester today voted to send two VA nominees to final consideration.

After meeting with each nominee personally and asking them tough questions during their confirmation hearing, Tester voted in support of both Tamara Bonzanto, nominee to be VA Assistant Secretary of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, and James Gfrerer, nominee to be VA Assistant Secretary of Information and Technology.

“If confirmed, Ms. Bonzanto and Mr. Gfrerer will be tasked with holding the VA accountable to veterans and taxpayers and over-seeing the largest health care I.T. transformation in American history,” said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “These are challenging positions, but I’m hopeful that with good communication and hard work, they can do right by this nation’s veterans.”

Bonzanto is nominated to advise VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on how to better hold the VA accountable to veterans and taxpayers, while ensuring that whistleblowers within the Department are protected and their cases are handled fairly and properly. If confirmed, Bonzanto will be the first individual to permanently hold this office, which was created as a part of Tester’s VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.

Gfrerer is nominated to help lead the VA’s efforts to modernize its Electronic Health Record system. Tester introduced the Veterans’ Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act to ensure the VA is transparent in its plan to roll out the new system for nine million veterans.

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted 14-1 to advance Bonzanto and Gfrerer to the full Senate for final consideration. More information about today’s Committee vote is available online HERE.