Gainesville’s Doug Collins sailed through his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday in a quiet orderly manner, compared to the contentious hearings some of President Trump’s other nominees have had. Collins is Trump’s choice to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.
During the hearing, Collins a Republican and former 9th District congressman, vowed to make use of his military service – he’s a colonel in the Air Force Reserves – in running the department.
“If I’m confirmed by this body, the VA will be my mission. It will be the mission to take care of our veterans and to make sure they get the benefits that they deserve,” Collins said. “I will tell you right now, the veterans of VA will not have a stronger fighter for the employees in the workforce than this secretary if confirmed and also one that will make sure that we’re held accountable because good work begets good work, and others need to be held accountable.”
Multiple committee members pressed Collins to fight Trump’s federal hiring freeze, saying it could hamper the VA’s ability to provide medical care.
He was also pressed on the Biden administration’s 2022 decision to allow the VA to provide abortion counseling and abortions to veterans when the life or health of a pregnant veteran was endangered by a pregnancy or when a woman became pregnant because of rape or incest. The previous administration’s ruling superseded a 1992 law.
“To me, it’s time for us to take a look at the rule and make sure, just as in every other area of VA life, that we’re actually doing what the law and the intent of this body is,” Collins told senators without affirming a predetermined outcome for such a review.
(MSN.COM contributed to this story.)