The previous congressman pledged the Division of Veterans Affairs would ‘put the veteran first’ underneath his management.
Doug Collins, President Donald Trump’s nominee to guide the Division of Veterans Affairs (VA), confronted questions from the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 21.
If confirmed as VA secretary, Collins would convey years of expertise as a navy veteran within the chaplain service. Collins served for a time within the U.S. Navy after which returned to service via the Air Drive Reserve. Collins noticed a deployment to Iraq in 2008 and continues to serve within the Air Drive Reserve, the place he holds the rank of colonel and serves as a chaplain.
In his opening remarks, Collins famous the well being dangers confronted by veterans of current conflicts, equivalent to publicity to toxins from the burn pits that deployed U.S. forces used to eliminate waste in fight zones.
“I’m an Iraq warfare veteran. I perceive burn pits as a result of I slept subsequent to at least one for a lot of months. I perceive this era that went for time and again and again, deployment after deployment,” Collins mentioned.
Collins, who represented Georgia’s Ninth Congressional District from 2013 to 2021, mentioned he has expertise working in a bipartisan vogue and intends to take action as a pacesetter of the VA.
Senators gave Collins a largely amicable reception on the Tuesday listening to, with jokes flowing throughout either side of the aisle. Their questions primarily centered on what Collins would do to enhance particular facets of the VA’s companies and the way he would reply to coverage disputes.
1. Rural Companies and Privatization
A number of senators requested Collins to prioritize enhancing entry to companies in rural areas, the place VA hospitals and clinics could also be few and much between.
Among the many measures Congress has handed to offer veterans with simpler entry to their well being care advantages is the VA MISSION Act, which incorporates provisions permitting veterans to hunt medical care at non-VA amenities when VA amenities aren’t obtainable.
“For me, the intent of the MISSION Act on the finish of the day was about how can we make veteran care obtainable to the veteran who wants it and never have the battles over how they get it,” Collins mentioned.
Collins mentioned he additionally spoke with Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-In poor health.) about colocating the VA’s community-based outpatient clinics with rural hospitals, to make it simpler for veterans to entry medical care.
Whereas the MISSION Act has elevated entry to non-VA assets, some senators raised considerations about efforts to utterly privatize the VA’s function. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) requested Collins the place he stands on the problem.
Collins mentioned, “There’ll at all times be a VA well being system for the veteran.” Nonetheless, he signaled he would proceed to help personal choices in locations and conditions the place VA care is missing.
An Military veteran waits to see if he has a response after receiving a COVID-19 booster vaccine at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Hines, In poor health., on Sept. 24, 2021. Scott Olson/Getty Pictures
Sanders raised concern that personal care is turning into a rising share of VA bills and that persevering with to lean into personal choices will lead the VA to play a shrinking function in administering veteran advantages.
“Are you keen to inform us that you just’re going to battle for a robust VA in each state on this nation?” Sanders requested.
Collins replied that he believes there’s room for each a robust VA, and a sturdy choice for veterans searching for non-VA care of their communities.
2. Value-Reducing
Collins confronted different questions on what measures he may take to chop prices for VA packages. One specific subject Collins pointed to has been with implementing an digital well being data system.
“That may be a program now that went too a few years and value too many billions of {dollars} with out discovering an answer, and my dedication is among the very first priorities, if confirmed, is to get in and determine why,” he mentioned.
Collins additionally raised the prospect of reforming the method for designing and setting up new VA amenities. He pointed to the VA facility in Aurora, Colorado for example of a pricey building challenge. The power noticed a 144 % challenge price enhance, in response to a 2018 Authorities Accountability Workplace Evaluate.
Whereas he famous areas for potential enchancment, Collins vowed he would put caring for veterans forward of making an attempt to implement cost-cutting measures.
“We’re not going to steadiness budgets on the again of veterans’ advantages. We’re not going to do this. We’re going to place the veteran first,” he advised the committee.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) warned Collins will face stress to carry out the division’s tasks underneath funds constraints.
“Reducing direct care folks in a well being care system, reducing individuals who coordinate care in order that veterans can get built-in care can actually, actually hurt veterans. So I’ll maintain you to your assertion that you’ll rise up for veterans within the funds discussions,” she mentioned.
3. Abortion Protection
A number of Democrats on the committee requested Collins whether or not the VA would proceed a coverage carried out by President Joe Biden’s administration, to offer abortion companies for VA beneficiaries.
Following the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s 2022 choice in Dobbs v. Jackson Girls’s Well being Group, the Biden administration took a number of measures to protect entry to abortion in states enacting legal guidelines to constrain the follow. In September 2022, the VA introduced an interim remaining rule stating it could present abortion counseling and carry out abortions in circumstances the place the life or well being of a pregnant mom is at risk, or a being pregnant arises from cases of rape or incest.
U.S. Division of Veteran Affairs constructing in Washington on July 6, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Instances
In an change with Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Collins mentioned the 1992 Veterans Well being Care Act expressly forbid the division from performing abortions. Hirono disagreed with Collins’ evaluation of the regulation.
“There may be, as you already know, debate concerning what the regulation permits. I imagine the regulation permits this rule to be enacted,” Hirono mentioned.
Collins advised Hirono that the VA would evaluation the 2022 rule to find out whether or not it does certainly adjust to the 1992 regulation.
“As you simply mentioned in your individual reply, it’s a debatable subject. We’re going to take a look at it and make it possible for the VA is following the regulation,” he mentioned.
In one other change, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) requested whether or not a veteran, who lives in a state like Texas the place abortion entry has been restricted, and has a being pregnant ensuing from rape, would have the ability to get abortion care at her native VA. Collins reiterated that the VA would evaluation the 2022 rule to find out whether it is in line with federal regulation.
4. Accountability
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) pointed to poor VA worker performances as a key contributing issue to adverse views in regards to the division. Collins provided his dedication to carry poor-performing VA staff accountable.
“If there’s somebody who’s harming or in the way in which of a veteran and taking a veteran’s profit away I’ve no drawback in eliminating that particular person and ensuring we do it correctly, and I’ve no drawback with the authorized repercussions,” Collins mentioned.
Collins mentioned he could be a cheerleader for devoted VA staff however mentioned the important thing to holding good staff might be to set excessive requirements.
In one other change with Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Collins acknowledged, “Failing up just isn’t an idea that I abide by.”
5. New Expertise
Throughout the listening to, Collins additionally fielded questions on technological developments to enhance the VA, together with the implementation of synthetic intelligence (AI) packages for extra quickly processing advantages claims.
Sen. Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) positioned AI as a possible resolution to clearing a backlog of VA claims, if the division leans into growing a high quality program. Collins indicated he would take a look at AI and different applied sciences for tactics to enhance the VA’s processes throughout the board.
“Why would I be glad for a system that’s outdated and outdated or non-existent, when my aim and my goal and my mission is to care for a veteran?” he mentioned.
A Veterans Affairs hospital in Lengthy Seashore, Calif., on June 8, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Instances
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) urged in opposition to the thought.
“I wish to make one thing very clear: I don’t need AI to resolve if considered one of my veterans is entitled to the advantages they’ve earned. Interval,” King mentioned.
Collins insisted no veteran would miss out on entry to advantages merely because of the system used to course of their claims, however mentioned he wouldn’t rule out methods to hurry up the claims course of.
“I’m keen to take a look at any alternative to get their veterans advantages faster and if that entails AI then I’m not keen to take it off the desk,” Collins mentioned.
The Senate committee concluded its questioning after about two and a half hours. The committee is scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 23 to contemplate whether or not to advance Collins’ nomination.