Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Nomination of David Shulkin as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Dr. David Shulkin as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Shulkin is currently the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary of Health.
“Dr. David Shulkin is a respected leader with the experience necessary to direct an organization as important and complex as the Department of Veterans Affairs. Over the past 18 months, he has demonstrated his commitment to ensuring all veterans receive the timely and quality care they deserve. Among the candidates considered for this position, Dr. Shulkin is certainly among the most qualified.
“After calling the Department of Veterans Affairs ‘the most corrupt agency in the United States’ on the campaign trail, the President-elect’s decision to retain a current VA leader and Obama-appointee is a notable departure from his inflammatory rhetoric. I sincerely hope he will leave his promise to move the VA toward privatization on the campaign trail as well.
“I look forward to working with Dr. Shulkin to continue building a strong and sustainable VA that fulfills our responsibility to care for the men and women who serve.”