[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 146 (Monday, September 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Tanya J. Bradsher

  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, with a historic number of veterans 
receiving care and benefits under the PACT Act, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs needs a qualified second-in-command.
  Now more than ever, the VA needs a steady hand to uphold its mission 
to deliver veterans the healthcare and benefits that they have earned.
  I rise today because Tanya Bradsher is that leader. She has an 
impressive record of serving our country in and out of uniform, 
especially in her current role--which is VA Chief of Staff--where she 
has been critical in overseeing the Department's implementation of the 
PACT Act.
  Between her time serving in the U.S. Army--including a deployment to 
Iraq--and working in Congress and working at the White House and the 
Defense Health Agency and at the Department of Homeland Security, it is 
clear that she is qualified for the job and ready to hit the ground 
running to serve our Nation's veterans.
  It is no secret that the VA has a lot of work on its plate. From 
rolling out the Electronic Health Record Modernization program to 
working with the Defense Department to improve transition process for 
servicemembers who are leaving the military, these are challenges VA's 
No. 2 official is directly tasked with, all while running the day-to-
day operations of the VA.
  That is why this body needs to come together in a bipartisan way to 
make Tanya Bradsher the permanent leader--the leader who will tackle 
these challenges and ensure that the VA is upholding its mission to the 
veterans and their families.
  The fact is, having a permanent leader in this role ensures that we 
can hold the VA accountable to do their job. And our veterans deserve 
no less.
  In the past, this body has been able to rise above politics to 
install qualified individuals at the VA responsible for getting vets 
the healthcare and the benefits they need and that they have earned. 
Today, we must do that again to confirm Tanya Bradsher as VA's next 
Deputy Secretary and making her the first woman ever confirmed for this 
position.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that this vote 
occur immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, so ordered.