VA Nominee Gets Warm Reception at Confirmation Hearing

By Ben Kesling 

WASHINGTON--Members of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs indicated Tuesday they would endorse Robert McDonald, President Barack Obama's nominee to take over the VA. A committee vote could come as soon as Wednesday and a full Senate vote next week.

"Why do you want this job?" asked Chairman Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) after naming a litany of problems facing the Department of Veterans Affairs and the often acrimonious environment on Capitol Hill.

"I desperately want this job because I think I can make a difference," said Mr. McDonald, 61, and a United States Military Academy graduate.

In his prepared remarks he said, "For me, taking care of veterans is personal. I come from--and deeply care for--military families."

If confirmed, Mr. McDonald would take over from Sloan Gibson, who has been acting as VA secretary since Eric Shinseki's resignation in late May following revelations of systemic problems including falsified reports about patient appointment wait times.

Mr. McDonald was a paratrooper in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division before beginning a 33-year career at Procter & Gamble Co., including serving as CEO from 2009 to 2011.

Committee members highlighted Mr. McDonald's long career in the private sector, with multiple senators touting his experience as a way to bring necessary fixes to the embattled department.

"You are about to take over a bankrupt corporation," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.). "The real insolvency is in morale and management."

Sen. Jerry Moran (R., Kan.) said Congress bears some responsibility for helping the next VA secretary fix the department, adding that Congress is just as dysfunctional as the VA if it fails to pass legislation to help fund and reform the department.

The House and Senate have both passed versions of bills to fund fixes to the VA system, including greater ability to access care from doctors outside the VA system.

The legislation is currently tied up in conference committee, in part because a Congressional Budget Office estimate the changes could boost costs by up to $50 billion a year. Acting Secretary Gibson also asked last week for more than $17 billion more funding over the next three years.

"While it's been easy to criticize the Department of Veteran Affairs for their failures for veterans, if we don't reach a conclusion on this legislation the United States Senate is deserving that same condemnation, " said Mr. Moran.

Mr. McDonald pledged a new level of transparency with the senators, even going to far as to say he will give his cell phone number to the committee members to make sure they are always able to reach him with their questions. But, he warned, he would hold Congress to account as well.

"When I give you my cell phone number, I want yours at the same time," he said.

Ben Kesling and Felicia Schwartz

Write to Ben Kesling at [e-mail]

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