Pelosi Statement on Nomination of David Shulkin for VA Secretary
Washington – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today released this statement on the announcement that David Shulkin will be nominated to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
“As Under Secretary of Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Obama, Dr. David J. Shulkin has served in the formidable role of overseeing and improving the nation’s largest integrated health care system that serves millions of veterans, their families and loved ones.
“With this long-awaited nomination, House Democrats hope to build on the progress made under President Obama and move closer to honoring our sacred promise to our nation’s men and women in uniform. From his success as a physician and leader at the Beth Israel Medical Center to the University of Pennsylvania Health System and beyond, Dr. Shulkin is striving to ensure that every veteran receives high-quality and timely care, all benefits are settled in an expedient and transparent manner and no veteran is forced to sleep on the street.
“House Democrats will continue to fight any efforts to privatize VA. We must build the VA up, not down, with innovative, transformative and fundamental change to meet the needs and challenges facing our nation’s veterans, families and caregivers. We are committed to our solemn pledge: just as the military leaves no one behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind here at home.”