Frelinghuysen Welcomes Trump VA Secretary Appointment

Undersecretary David Shulkin was President of Morristown Medical Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Declaring that President-Elect Donald Trump “chose extremely well,” U.S. Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) today praised the selection of Dr. David Shulkin as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

“David Shulkin knows healthcare, he knows veterans and he knows New Jersey, having served as the President of Morristown Medical Center,” said Frelinghuysen.  “I am confident that Dr. Shulkin will deliver!”

Shulkin was appointed Undersecretary for Health by President Obama in March of 2015 as the VA grappled with several scandals involving long wait times for veterans at VA hospitals, reports of a cover-up and skyrocketing construction costs at VA hospitals.

“In a very tangible way, Dr. Shulkin has already helped New Jersey veterans,” said Frelinghuysen.  “I met with him at this time last year to seek his support for the establishment of a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Sussex County,” said Frelinghuysen. “His assistance, coupled with our persistence, led to the opening of that clinic in Newton this week.”

“Of course, much more work needs to be done to fix the widespread problems at the VA. Every day we must focus on needs of men and women veterans and improve the department’s ability to provide our veterans the care and benefits they have earned.”

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