Gus Bilirakis: McDonald Needs to Protect Veterans, Not VA Staff

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, expressed some hope that businessman Robert McDonald can help reform the VA department. McDonald was nominated to replace Eric Shinseki as secretary of VA on Monday.

The problems at the VA are very serious, and they are negatively impacting veterans across the country, Bilirakis said after President Barack Obama announced the nomination. Veterans deserve timely access to quality care, and in many cases, that isnt happening right now. It is my hope that Mr. McDonalds nomination will be the first step on the road to bringing back accountability and transparency to the dysfunctional agency. The VA needs to be about protecting and caring for the veteran, not the bureaucrat.