releases: https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1d96451c-bcb6-4a03-ad2c-2a6c11226c50
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1d96451c-bcb6-4a03-ad2c-2a6c11226c50 | COCHRAN VOTES TO CONFIRM NEW V.A. SECRETARY, SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR REFORM MEASURE | 2014-07-29 | 2014 | 2014-07 | Republican | House | MS | Thad Cochran | C000567 | www.cochran.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today voted to confirm Robert McDonald to be the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs and signaled his support for compromise legislation to begin reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate on Tuesday voted 97-0 to put a new Veterans Affairs Secretary in place to undertake necessary reforms to improve the delivery of health care and benefits to veterans. “I am hopeful Robert McDonald will be successful in implementing the reforms that are needed within the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Cochran said. “As Secretary, he will face many challenges to improve the entire VA system, but he will also have the support of many of us in Congress as he assumes this important position.” In a statement, Cochran signaled his hope that McDonald’s ascension to lead the VA, combined with a passage of an emergency reform package, will prove to be a turning point for the troubled department. “I support measures to correct the VA’s problems and improve the quality of, and access to, care for veterans. I am hopeful that the pending VA reform legislation and the confirmation of a new Secretary of Veterans Affairs will be reassuring steps toward enhancing the delivery of health care services to our veterans,” Cochran said. “We can and should do better for those who have devoted themselves to serving our country.” The House and Senate are expected to approve a compromise VA reform bill this week that would make an estimated $17 billion available to reform veterans care practices. The package has funding to alleviate long wait times for treatment by allowing veterans to seek care outside the VA system if they live at least 40 miles from a VA hospital and clinic. Other funding would allow the VA to hire additional staff and upgrade facilities to improve health care delivery to veterans. Cochran serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee that approved an amendment he authored in May to improve coordination between the VA Office of the Inspector General and VA Office of the Undersecretary of Health in investigating and resolving problems within the Department. The amendment, developed as a result of problems at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson, was added to the FY2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, which also includes additional funding and policy directives meant to address the delivery of benefits to veterans. “I have recommended on several occasions continued, vigorous oversight by the Department of Veterans Affairs during the implementation of a corrective action plan at the G.V. ‘Sonny’ Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson. Reports from VA patients, their families and VA hospital officials in Mississippi have served to guide corrections and improvements at the facility,” Cochran said. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |