[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        VA Secretary Nomination

  Madam President, we just received word that the President's nominee 
to be the next Secretary of the VA has withdrawn his nomination. The 
allegations swirling around the nomination of Dr. Jackson were 
troubling and raised lots of questions, but the real blame here falls 
on the administration for once again being sloppy and careless in the 
vetting process. Dr. Jackson didn't go through a careful vetting. Some 
of these things might have been discovered beforehand, and he wouldn't 
have had to go through the process he went through.
  The Veterans' Affairs Committee did the right thing. They didn't seek 
to go after Jackson; people came to them. When people come to them--
particularly military folks--with serious and troubling allegations, 
they have an obligation to investigate. I salute Chairman Isakson and 
Ranking Member Tester for pursuing those allegations.
  Dr. Jackson went through a maelstrom, and he should tell his patient, 
I guess, the President, that he, the President, caused this problem by 
not properly vetting, by making these decisions on the fly, by making 
sure they don't count.
  Our obligation above all is not to any one individual but to the 
millions of veterans in America. They deserve a department that treats 
them well. They deserve the best healthcare, and we need someone to run 
the VA who is up to the job.
  I hope the President learns his lesson. I hope the next nominee is 
thoroughly vetted before he or she is sent to the Congress. Most of 
all, I hope our veterans can get the kind of leader they deserve.