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Washington D.C. — House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today commended outgoing Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson, who built a reputation among committee Republicans and Democrats for his leadership of the department during a challenging tenure. 

“This can be a thankless job,” Buyer said, telling Nicholson that he shares the intangibles of service with those at VA with whom he served during his tenure, which began in February 2005.  Buyer said VA’s employees serve for personal reasons, not for money.  “Your dedication to your fellow men and women is remarkable,” Buyer said, thanking Nicholson also for his service as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, which preceded his cabinet appointment.  

“America’s most precious assets are the men and women who have worn the uniform, and who have been hurt in service,” Buyer said.  

Echoing Buyer’s statement that “we all want the best for our comrades,” Nicholson told the committee that VA will do all in its power to care for servicemembers to whom harm may come. “We can do no less. They have earned that,” he said.

Buyer’s appreciation for Nicholson’s performance characterized the general tone of the hearing.

“You have exhibited leadership; you accepted responsibility and accountably and then you took action,” Buyer said.  “You told this committee you would take responsibility for the budget process, and you did.  The result was a very robust budget that has been commended by veterans’ organizations and the committee.”

Buyer commended Nicholson on centralizing information technology and security at the departmental level, reducing vulnerabilities to information theft and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of VA IT.  

“Other departments of government envy the VA; empowering the CIO will pay great dividends – VA is at the tip of the spear; it is setting the pace,” Buyer said. 

Addressing his enduring priority of seamless transition of servicemembers from the military to VA, Buyer said, “You have a new partner in the new Secretary of Defense, and we have the work of the Dole-Shalala Commission; we are eager to hear them this week.”

Responding to the urgency of the need for effective intervention for the nation’s newest veterans, Nicholson spoke of his commitment to their care.

“I have directed that each of our veterans of the Global War on Terror who comes to VA for any kind of care be carefully screened for brain damage or PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder],” Nicholson said.  

Nicholson told committee members of recent VA medical triumphs, one of which is the virtual elimination of staph infections from the Pittsburgh VA medical center in a pilot project that has now been expanded department-wide.  The VA also saw the successful conclusion of clinical trials that led to the development of a new vaccine for shingles. 

For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to:

http://republicans.veterans.house.gov

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