Watchdog suggests VA halt medical records overhaul until lingering issues are resolved February 12 Staff at the 374th Surgical Operations Squadron Same Day Surgery Unit enter information into the department s electronic medical record system following surgery on a colleague in May 2018. (Airman John D. Partlow/Air Force) An outside watchdog is recommending that Veterans Affairs halt deployment of its new electronic medical records system until serious problems with its operations are addressed, but department officials insist the issues won’t create significant delays for the massive project. The new records system a 10-year, $16 billion project started in 2018 was one of the signature achievements of President Donald Trump’s VA policies. It is designed to connect veterans medical files with Defense Department files, providing a single, lifelong record for troops past their military separation.
A Montana Democratic will chair the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, handing new clout over the defense budget to a state with nuclear weapons interests.
DAV
February 10, 2021
By M. Todd Hunter
After years of fighting to deliver quality care and benefits to the nation’s men and women in uniform, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana took over the gavel as chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in January. Tester’s first hearing as chairman was to consider the President’s nomination of Denis McDonough to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Previous chairman Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas now serves as ranking member of the committee.
“Serving as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is an honor of a lifetime, and I’m grateful for the chance to lead the committee on behalf of Montana’s veterans and all who’ve served our nation proudly,” Tester said in a press release the day prior to taking over as chairman. “I’m looking forward to continuing the bipartisan partnership Senator Moran and I have built, and am ready to roll up my sleeves along with our committee members and veterans advocates to hold th
Senate confirms Denis McDonough, Biden’s pick to lead Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Veterans Affairs nominee Denis McDonough speaks during his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington.
(Associated Press)
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The U.S. Senate confirmed Denis McDonough as the secretary of Veterans Affairs on Monday, making the former Obama chief of staff the second non-veteran to lead the department.
The VA, which has faced scandals under both Republican and Democratic administrations, is the second-largest federal agency behind the Department of Defense.
The 87-7 vote for McDonough will probably be the last confirmation of President Biden’s nominees before the Senate begins former President Trump’s impeachment trial on Tuesday. Only six of Biden’s other Cabinet-level nominees have been confirmed.