[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.
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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
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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.
____________________