WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after President-elect Joe Biden announced his nomination of Denis McDonough, former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, to be the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement:

“I’ve had the chance to work directly with Denis McDonough over the years and he is an outstanding pick to lead the VA.

“Denis is a principled, professional patriot and a great supporter of veterans.  A former White House Chief of Staff, he is a distinguished public servant who brings the experience, skill, and leadership to be effective in this new post.

“Over the last several years, the Trump Administration has not adequately lived up to its obligations to provide our veterans with the care and benefits they have earned.  Our veterans who’ve already given so much shouldn’t have to battle bureaucracy.  The VA must do its part to be efficient, effective, and proactive and it must have the resources to carry out its vital missions.

“Too many veterans have been forced to wait too long to get access to the services they need.  We’ve got to do better.  Our veterans fought to defend our country and we must provide them with some peace of mind that we will keep our promises to appropriately care for them and their families.

“As the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough will be a tremendous advocate for our veterans.  He will honor them through action and is someone who can find new, innovative strategies and cost-effective solutions to providing world-class care and support for our veterans.”