Senate committee schedules confirmation hearing for Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Indianz.Com > News > Senate committee schedules confirmation hearing for Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Doug Collins, then serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, speaks at a Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., on July 25, 2019. Photo: Donna Burton / U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Indianz.Com

The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs has scheduled a January 14 confirmation hearing for Doug Collins to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Collins, a former member of U.S. Congress from Georgia, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He currently serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command and was previously deployed to Iraq during the war in that Middle East nation.

“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need,” president-elect Donald Trump said in a November 14 announcement.

Donald Trump announces Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

“I am pleased to announce my intent to nominate former Congressman Doug Collins, of Georgia, as The United States Secretary for Veterans Affairs,” said Donald Trump.

Native Vote

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for providing health care to military veterans, including American Indians and Alaska Natives, who serve in the military at the highest rates per capita of any racial or ethnic group. The VA has a partnership with the Indian Health Service to reimburse the IHS for services provided to Native veterans.

Republicans are the majority party the Senate in the 119th Congress, which officially began on January 3. They control the chamber and all of the committees.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) announced on Tuesday that he is serving as chair of Veterans Affairs for the 119th legislative session. He is also re-joining the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, having been a member in the past.

“I am honored to lead the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and I remain committed to making certain veterans in Kansas and across the nation have a VA that is working for them and an opportunity to achieve success after their service,” Moran said in a news release on Tuesday.

American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans: you can use VA health care benefits along with your Indian Health Service or Tribal Health plans. To learn more, contact your nearest VA medical center or visit https://t.co/KZqG1cx5Oq pic.twitter.com/9lyQtlfqbA
— Veterans Affairs (@DeptVetAffairs) June 4, 2020

The confirmation hearing for Collins is scheduled to take place at 9am on January 14 in Room 106 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building in Washington, D.C. Additional details have not yet been posted online as of Tuesday afternoon. A confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense is also taking place on the same morning.

Following the hearing, Moran’s committee would be able to schedule business meeting to consider the VA nomination. Assuming favorable action, the full Senate would then vote on Collins. Republicans control 52 out of 100 seats in the chamber.

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20.

Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Notice

Nomination of the Honorable Douglas A. Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs (January 14, 2024)