[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S529-S532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NOMINATION JIM NICHOLSON TO BE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 5, which the 
clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Jim Nicholson, of 
Colorado, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will be 30 
minutes equally divided between the Senator from Idaho and the Senator 
from Colorado.
  Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, I have been joined by my colleague, 
Senator Akaka, the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, to comment briefly on the President's nomination of Ambassador 
Jim Nicholson to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  Mr. Nicholson is a man of considerable character and accomplishment. 
I am pleased to speak in support of his nomination to serve in this 
critical post. I am pleased the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
a committee of which I am the newly elected chairman, approved this 
nomination Monday at the committee's initial meeting of the 109th 
Congress.
  The President has asked Jim Nicholson to accept one of the more 
difficult jobs in Washington; that is, running the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. In the best of times this is a tough assignment. In 
times like the ones we are now entering, times within which the rate of 
the growth of the VA's budget will likely slow, but also within which 
the needs of the service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, 
must and will be met, is a tougher assignment, still. I am highly 
confident, however, that the President has found the right person for 
this job.

  Let me summarize Jim Nicholson's background. He was born in 1938 to 
modest circumstances on a farm in Iowa. He left that farm in 1957 to 
attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After graduation in 
1961, he served for 8 years in active service in the Army. He was a 
ranger and a paratrooper and served a tour in Vietnam from 1965 through 
1966 where he earned, among other declarations, the Bronze Star, the 
Combat Infantryman's badge, the Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry.
  After returning from Vietnam in 1966, then-Captain Nicholson 
continued to serve on Active Duty for more than 4 years, followed by an 
additional 22 years as a Reserve officer. He retired from the Army 
Reserve in 1991 at the rank of colonel.
  While in Active and Reserve service, Mr. Nicholson obtained two 
advanced degrees, a BA in public policy from Columbia University and a 
JD from the University of Denver. After practicing law for a relatively 
brief period in Denver in the 1970s, he launched a very successful real 
estate development career. Among other positions, he served as chairman 
and president of Renaissance Homes of Colorado. His business career was 
also marked with extensive community and charitable activity.
  In 1986, Jim Nicholson became a committeeman for the Republican 
Party's national committee. In 1993, he was elected the Republican 
National Committee's vice chairman, and then he was elected for a 4-
year term as chairman of the Republican National Committee. It was 
during these years at the helm of the RNC, I grew to know and admire 
Jim Nicholson. His accomplishments since that time have only increased 
my respect for the man.
  In August of 2001, President Bush appointed Mr. Nicholson U.S. 
Ambassador to the Holy See, the Vatican. From that post he has 
advocated for religious reconciliation, for religious freedom in China 
and Russia, and against the international exploitation and enslavement 
of defenseless persons, commonly referred to as human trafficking.

[[Page S530]]

  He has, as well, ably represented the interests of this Nation to 
this vital diplomatic post in a period of wartime. He has done so by 
all accounts with great diplomatic skill and steadfastness of the 
purpose that he was sent to serve.
  Veterans are fortunate a man so well-known and respected by the 
President of the United States will serve as Secretary. I am pleased 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in its first official business 
meeting of the 109th Congress on Monday, unanimously approved this 
nomination.
  I ask my colleagues to ratify the judgment they were expressing. VA 
needs a steadfast hand in Jim Nicholson. I hope all of my colleagues 
will feel similar to those on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  This is not to suggest that VA has lacked a steady hand at the 
tiller. To the contrary. The stewardship as VA Secretary of former 
Naval Officer Anthony, or as we came to know him, Tony Principi, has 
been by any standard one of exceptional merit and distinction. It is a 
rare Secretary, indeed, who departs from this sensitive post with the 
words, I believe, that can be expressed about his service as ``job well 
done.'' Veteran service organizations, leaders from the hill, and other 
bodies all critically concerned about veterans affairs recognize that 
Tony Principi managed his job extremely well, and he has managed it 
while leading VA with impeccable integrity, absolute fairness and 
objectivity, and unflagging willingness to listen to all affected 
constituents and an extraordinary sensitivity to the needs and concerns 
of ordinary rank-and-file veterans.
  When the history of the VA is written, Tony Principi will be judged 
as one of the agencies titans. More importantly, he will also be judged 
by the ordinary former enlisted men and women whose needs he never lost 
sight of. On behalf of those persons, I salute the now retiring 
Secretary, Tony Principi.
  I say to my colleagues, I believe Jim Nicholson to be a titan in the 
making. He has all of the qualities that our President recognized, that 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs recognized, as one who can 
adequately and most appropriately serve this very important agency of 
our Government and its millions of constituents. I ask the Senate to 
support the efforts of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in bringing 
this nomination to the Senate.
  I yield the floor and recognize my colleague and ranking member of 
the committee, Senator Dan Akaka.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Hawaii.
  Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I rise as a ranking member of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. I do it with great expectation and look 
forward to working with my friend, Chairman Craig from Idaho. I look 
forward to working with the committee. We held our first meeting 
yesterday, and I would say that it was a great meeting and a good 
beginning for the committee.

  I am also pleased to support the nomination of James Nicholson to be 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. If confirmed, Ambassador Nicholson will 
have the responsibility of steering the Department of Veterans Affairs 
through a period of great transformation.
  I recently had a chance to meet with Ambassador Nicholson and to 
discuss the many challenges he will face in guiding VA through this 
critical period. I have also had the opportunity to read his answers to 
prehearing questions that I submitted to him and also to hear his 
testimony at the January 24, 2005, hearing of the Senate Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs on his nomination. I believe Ambassador Nicholson has 
the commitment and has the drive and fortitude to maintain America's 
special obligation to our veterans.
  I know with his years of service to this Nation at West Point, in 
Vietnam, and as Ambassador to the Holy See, Ambassador Nicholson is 
familiar with the importance of the leadership role he will soon assume 
at VA. We expect him to hit the ground running to tackle VA's many 
challenges. And, of course, we will be there to work with him.
  It is widely known that on the health care side, VA is facing a 
crisis situation. In recent years, millions of veterans have come to VA 
for the first time. As I said yesterday to my colleagues, I think it is 
good news that millions have turned to VA for care. Some, however, 
believe we can deal with the burgeoning demand by reducing who is 
eligible for care. For me, however, this is not the answer. I hope 
Ambassador Nicholson will see the merits of keeping a full and open 
system.
  In addition to providing basic primary care, the VA system offers 
programs of enormous value, especially for veterans who are blind or 
have spinal cord injuries, who need prosthetic devices, or who require 
dependable mental health care. We must retain these specialized 
services and, at the same time, ensure that all veterans can have 
access to the care they have earned through their service.
  The VA research program will need some attention as well, as many of 
our finest physicians chose to come to VA so they can conduct research. 
Keeping the research program viable is tremendously important. 
Ambassador Nicholson has his work cut out for him in this regard.
  In the past, the Veterans Benefits Administration has come under fire 
for the lack of timeliness of its claims processing. While VBA has made 
progress in improving timeliness and accuracy of disability claims 
processing, further improvement is needed. Notably, VBA has turned its 
attention to decreasing the amount of time it takes to process a claim 
and taken its focus off appeals. A more balanced approach must be 
reached.
  We will be looking to Ambassador Nicholson for innovative approaches 
so that VBA can absorb changes in law and new business processes 
without always going into a nose dive. Our veterans deserve no less 
than quality workmanship done in a timely manner.
  Ambassador Nicholson's nomination process has been fairly expedited 
because VA's pressing needs require a new Secretary immediately. 
However, my committee will continue its strong oversight of the 
Department, and I encourage other Members to work with us in this 
endeavor.
  Madam President, in my view, Mr. Nicholson is ready for the 
challenges of this important position. He will bring to it his many 
experiences as someone who himself served as well as his sincere 
commitment to the well-being of his fellow veterans. I ask my 
colleagues to approve this nomination.

  Madam President, I yield back the remainder of our time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, let me say forthrightly that we have the 
Ambassador's nomination on the floor today because of the cooperation 
of the ranking member, and I greatly appreciate that. Both he and I 
have reviewed what we believe is the mission of the committee. We are 
very excited about the work we will do in the coming years to help our 
veterans and work on their behalf through this important committee. I 
thank him for his cooperation.
  Madam President, I yield to our colleague from Colorado.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, first of all, I thank the chairman and 
ranking member for moving forward with the confirmation of Jim 
Nicholson to be the new Secretary for the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. I congratulate them both on assuming their responsibilities as 
chairman and ranking member on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  Madam President, I rise today in strong support of President Bush's 
nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Jim Nicholson. I have 
known and worked with Jim for years in the State of Colorado, and I am 
proud President Bush has nominated him for this post.
  As a West Point graduate, Army ranger, highly decorated combat 
veteran, and almost 4 years of service as the Ambassador to the Holy 
See, Mr. Nicholson is well prepared and highly qualified for the duties 
as the head of the VA. He brings a strong work ethic to his new 
responsibilities.
  Born during the Great Depression, as the third child of seven, Jim 
Nicholson grew up on a tenant farm in rural Iowa. Both he and his older 
brother Jack earned appointments to West Point while struggling as a 
farming family in the Midwest.
  Prior to Jim's appointment, his brother returned home from school for

[[Page S531]]

the summer, and his family could not find enough money to send Jim back 
to New York for the start of his new term. In order to solve this 
problem, a 15-year-old Jim Nicholson took it upon himself to find a job 
building railroads through his home State of Iowa. By working as long 
as 19 hours some days, Jim was able to not only earn enough money to 
send his brother back to West Point, but also was eventually able to 
buy his father a used car so he could look for work.
  These virtues that Jim displayed as a youth--work ethic, self-
sacrifice, and determination--are the very qualities which will allow 
him to excel in the President's Cabinet.
  As a West Point graduate and decorated veteran, this former Army 
ranger also has the personal experience in the Armed Forces that will 
serve his new constituency well. During his service in the Army, Mr. 
Nicholson fought in the Vietnam war and was a highly decorated soldier. 
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, a 
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Vietnamese Cross 
for Gallantry, and two Air Medals while spending 8 years on Active Duty 
and 22 years in the Army Reserve before retiring as a colonel.
  Clearly, Senator Nicholson's qualifications after his Army career are 
just as impressive, including his advanced degrees, starting a 
successful real estate business, numerous community volunteer efforts 
throughout Colorado, and finally culminating in his service as an 
Ambassador to the Holy See. This is a man who has been asked to serve 
his country in a new capacity and who will answer that call with his 
own sense of duty and honor.
  I urge my colleagues to confirm Jim Nicholson as our next Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today we consider President Bush's nominee 
to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. At a time when America's men 
and women in uniform are not only serving but actively fighting in 
combat, this is a particularly significant nomination for us to 
consider. This nominee will be responsible for managing the benefits 
for our longtime veterans as well as those who recently have served and 
sacrificed for us all.
  Those who have served in uniform deserve our Nation's deepest 
gratitude. Beyond gratitude, we, as a nation, have committed to 
providing our veterans with certain benefits and services which they 
deeply deserve in honor of their sacrifice for our common good. These 
benefits can never fully repay America's debt to her veterans but they 
are an important expression of our thanks and commitment to their well-
being.
  Sadly, the delivery of these benefits and services has been less than 
optimal. Every day, deserving veterans wait too long and wade through 
needless redtape before receiving the help to which they are legally 
and morally entitled.
  I am also particularly concerned about the vast disparities in the 
VA's compensation payments to disabled veterans and the way the current 
system shortchanges disabled veterans in my State of Illinois.
  Illinois now ranks 50th in the Nation in average veteran's disability 
compensation. While the veterans in some States receive a statewide 
average disability payment of $10,000 to $11,000 per year, veterans in 
other States--including Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, New Jersey 
and others--receive statewide average disability payments of less than 
$7,000 a year. This wide inconsistency should not exist. America's 
veterans deserve better. The ability of veterans to receive fair and 
just compensation for service-related disabilities should not depend on 
where they happen to live.
  Unfortunately, this disparity has been left uncorrected for several 
years. In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs' Claims Processing 
Task Force questioned the consistency of decisions because of factors 
such as differing interpretations of VA guidance. Then, in 2002 the 
Government Accountability Office reported that the VA was not 
systematically assessing decisionmaking consistency for any specific 
medical impairments, despite concerns about possible inconsistencies in 
disability claims decisions made by the VA's 57 regional offices. In 
that same 2002 report, GAO expressly recommended that the VA assess 
decisionmaking consistency for medical conditions requiring difficult 
judgment. The GAO even suggested a way to do this. The VA could develop 
hypothetical claims for a specific medical impairment, distribute these 
claims to multiple adjudicators, and then analyze the variations in the 
resulting decisions on these claims. These findings and recommendations 
went unheeded at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This past 
November, a new GAO report on the consistency of decisions at the VA 
found that since the issuance of the 2002 report, the VA still had not 
systematically assessed the consistency of regional office decisions.
  Several Senators have joined me in raising this issue with the 
current Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Principi. As a result 
of our expressions of concern, the Inspector General of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs is currently conducting a review of the Veterans 
Benefits Administration's system for rating disability claims to 
determine the reasons for these nationwide differences.
  Because the national disparity in veterans disability compensation 
hits Illinois especially hard, Senator Obama and I met with Ambassador 
Nicholson soon after his nomination to serve as the next Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs. In our meeting, he indicated to us that he was 
already aware of the concerns raised about inconsistent decisions at 
the VA and the ongoing Inspector General review into the matter.
  America's veterans deserve our deepest gratitude. They also deserve a 
benefits system that is managed in a competent manner so that it 
produces fair, even and consistent decisions. I will continue to press 
for action to address the flaws of the current system that leave 
Illinois veterans shortchanged. I look forward to working with Mr. 
Nicholson to ensure that our veterans receive all the benefits to which 
they are entitled.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I rise in strong support of the 
nomination of R. James Nicholson to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Nicholson's predecessor, 
Anthony Principi, for his service to our Nation's veterans. John 
Furgess, the National Commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said 
it best when he described Mr. Principi's service to our country. He 
said that Secretary Principi:

     is a true veterans' advocate . . . [who] constantly 
     challenged his staff to improve their services to America's 
     25 million veterans, and his work to address the needs and 
     concerns of today's newest generation of veterans who are 
     fighting the War on Terrorism typifies his vision and 
     leadership. Secretary Principi wore his compassion and 
     commitment to veterans on his sleeve . . . We applaud him for 
     his service to our country and wish him and his family the 
     best of futures. He will be missed but not forgotten.

  Let me turn now to express my admiration and appreciation for the 
President's choice in nominating Ambassador Nicholson to lead our 
Nation as it strives to support the veterans who have served so 
tirelessly on behalf of our country. I know Jim Nicholson to be an 
intelligent, articulate, and decent man. As a veteran of some 
distinction himself, he has an excellent appreciation for the issues 
the Department faces. And, as an accomplished executive, he is 
incredibly well-suited to lead this large and important agency. These 
are trying times for our Nation's veterans. As the Vietnam war era 
veterans begin to retire in greater numbers and our veterans from the 
war on terrorism return, our Nation must reaffirm its commitment to 
those who have placed everything on the line for the cause of freedom. 
I believe that Ambassador Nicholson is an excellent choice to lead our 
Nation's effort to maintain the sacred covenants between the Nation and 
its veterans.
  A man from humble beginnings, Ambassador Nicholson rose to graduate 
from West Point and become an Army Ranger who served his country during 
the Vietnam war. During that conflict, he proved his courage in battle 
and earned the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf 
Cluster, the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, two air medals, and, of 
course, the Combat Infantry Badge. His service to his country did not 
end there. He went on to serve for 22 years as an Army Reservist, 
retiring with the rank

[[Page S532]]

of colonel. Along the way he received a master's degree in public 
policy from Columbia University and a law degree from the University of 
Denver. In Denver, he established a reputation as a highly qualified 
attorney specializing in real estate, municipal finance and zoning law 
before becoming a highly successful residential real estate developer.
  However, his call to service did not end with his years of military 
service, Ambassador Nicholson entered politics and was elected chairman 
of the Republican National Committee. His tenure secured him a 
reputation as a person of the highest ethics and his current position 
as Ambassador to the Holy See has been a success.
  I feel quite confident that those same skills that made Ambassador 
Nicholson a successful businessman and ambassador will ensure that our 
veterans receive the support and care they deserve while maximizing the 
efficiency of this Department.
  Therefore, Mr. President, I hope that I will be joined by my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle and quickly confirm Ambassador 
Nicholson to this vital post.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of the 
nomination of Jim Nicholson to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I 
believe Ambassador Nicholson's 30 years of military service make him an 
excellent choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jim 
Nicholson's leadership is particularly important as our brave men and 
women in uniform once again serve the cause of freedom in the fight 
against terrorism around the globe.
  Jim Nicholson has served his Nation faithfully and ably for the 
majority of his lifetime. I believe his great diversity of experience 
will be of the utmost benefit to the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
our veterans. We as a nation have a commitment to our veterans. They 
and their families have made countless sacrifices to serve in our 
country's defense, and we have a duty to provide for their needs. Jim 
Nicholson's leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs will help 
us honor this obligation.
  Jim Nicholson graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point 
in 1961, becoming an Army Ranger and a paratrooper. He went on to serve 
during the Vietnam war. While in Vietnam, he earned the Bronze Star, 
the Combat Infantry Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the 
Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry. After his 8 years of active service as 
a Ranger, Jim served 22 years in the Army Reserve, retiring with the 
rank of full colonel.
  Jim Nicholson has been an esteemed chairman of the Republican 
National Committee and for the past 3 years he has served as the U.S. 
Ambassador to the Vatican. Jim holds a master's degree in public policy 
from Columbia University and a law degree from the University of 
Denver. On top of these vast achievements, he has been a successful 
businessman and community volunteer.
  In conclusion, I believe the President has chosen the right person to 
lead the Department of Veterans Affairs in its very important work, and 
I strongly support the nomination of Jim Nicholson.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, to my knowledge there is no one else who 
has requested time to speak on behalf of this nominee. My colleague has 
yielded. I yield back the remainder of our time and ask for the vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Jim Nicholson, of Colorado, to be 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs?
  The nomination was confirmed.
  Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BENNETT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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