[Page S567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Cabinet Nominations

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the floor to speak about the 
nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs that we will be voting on in 
a couple of hours.
  I have long considered myself a friend of veterans. The men and women 
who have put themselves in harm's way to serve our country, they 
deserve our full support, and they have mine. Too often, I hear from 
veterans in Iowa that the Department of Veterans Affairs makes it 
difficult for them to access healthcare and the services that we honor 
them with because they have defended our country.
  Whether this is expecting them to drive an unnecessary distance for 
their initial disability exam or making it more difficult to seek the 
care that they choose outside of the VA system, our veterans deserve 
much better. The VA needs to do better, which brings me to former 
Representative Doug Collins, President Trump's nominee to be Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs. Representative Collins, a veteran himself, 
recognizes the challenges veterans face with the VA.
  During his time in the House of Representatives, he was a supporter 
of giving veterans the choice on where to seek healthcare. He and I 
agree that the VA needs to do better by our veterans and taxpayers 
alike.
  This became more obvious to the public last year when the VA misled 
Congress by claiming the Department was going to face a shortfall in 
funding but, in fact, ended the fiscal year with a surplus--can you 
believe this?--in the billions.
  When I heard about this alleged shortfall, I joined my colleagues, 
led by the junior Senator from Alaska, to work to bring more 
transparency to the VA budget process. As I shared with Representative 
Collins, I will continue to do so.
  When we first met in my office, I gave Representative Collins my 
advice that I give to every nominee coming to the office because these 
people come before the committee, and one of the questions they are 
asked: Will you answer our letters? And they all say yes. But we know, 
as a matter of fact, that doesn't happen as often as it should.
  So I suggested to him that maybe instead of saying ``yes,'' he say 
``maybe'' so he wouldn't turn out to be a liar ever, unlike the former 
Secretary of VA who did not feel the need to respond to even a 
bipartisan letter that I sent in October of 2024, alongside three of my 
colleagues, before that Secretary departed from his post. Now, 
Representative Collins understands the importance of being accountable 
and forthcoming to Congress because he has been a Member of Congress.
  So I thank Representative Collins for his service to our country, and 
I will look forward to voting positively on his nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.