David Shulkin
U.S. Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and Charlie Dent (R-PA) and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Dr. David Shulkin to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Shulkin, the current under secretary of the VA, has dealt with scandals involving long wait times, secret wait lists and increasing construction costs at VA hospitals since being appointed to the post in March 2015.
“David Shulkin knows health care, he knows veterans and he knows New Jersey, having served as the president of Morristown Medical Center,” Frelinghuysen said. “I am confident that Dr. Shulkin will deliver.”
The establishment of a community-based outpatient clinic in Sussex County, New Jersey, last year resulted from Shulkin’s support and years of persistence, Frelinghuysen added.
“Of course, much more work needs to be done to fix the widespread problems at the VA,” Frelinghuysen said. “Every day we must focus on needs of men and women veterans and improve the department’s ability to provide our veterans the care and benefits they have earned.”
Dent, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, said he has been impressed by Shulkin’s willingness to embrace innovative ideas and approaches to health care challenges facing veterans.
“As Under Secretary of Health, Dr. Shulkin has overseen the largest integrated health system in the country, and he understands the roadblocks that continue to prohibit our veterans from accessing the quality care they deserve in an expeditious manner,” Dent said.
“Dr. Shulkin also has many ties to Pennsylvania and the public health sector, including tenure at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Temple University Hospital,” Dent added.
Tillis also noted that Shulkin has demonstrated his commitment to reforming the VA.
“As VA secretary, Dr. Shulkin will help accelerate the progress the department has recently made, particularly when it comes to moving forward with the MyVA initiative to streamline the VA bureaucracy,” Tillis said.
“Over the last two years, I’ve had the honor of working directly with Dr. Shulkin and Secretary McDonald on this initiative. If Congress and the incoming administration gives Dr. Shulkin the tools and authorities he needs, I am confident we can transform the VA for the better and deliver the kind of timely and quality health care our veterans need and deserve,” Tillis said.