02.01.17

VA Nominee Shulkin Commits to Restoring the Trust of Alaska Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today received the commitment of Dr. David Shulkin to address the deficiencies of the Choice Program in Alaska, to ensure our state’s program on community-based scheduling continues on track, and to visit rural Alaska if confirmed as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In August 2015, Dr. Shulkin, as the VA Undersecretary of Health, traveled to Alaska at the request of Senator Sullivan, where they held roundtables across the state and held a Senate VA Committee field hearing in Eagle River.

“I asked Alaska veterans for their questions and input regarding the nomination of Dr. Shulkin to lead the VA,” said Senator Sullivan. “He heard from them when he visited Alaska as VA undersecretary, and I wanted to ensure that in this new role that Alaskans’ voices would be heard again. It is imperative that the VA restores the confidence and trust it has lost over the years among veterans, and Dr. Shulkin committed to making this a top priority. Dr. Shulkin also articulated the importance of the VA’s partnership with Alaska tribal health providers in delivering care to veterans where the VA cannot.

“As one distinguished Alaska veteran described—better than I could ever put it—our veterans are looking for a secretary who will ‘kick ass and take names.’ Dr. Shulkin committed that if he is unable to regain the trust of veterans and improve the system, he should be held accountable and replaced. I couldn’t agree more.”

# # #