Georgia’s Doug Collins confirmed as Veterans Affairs secretary

Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Former Georgia congressman Doug Collins was confirmed Tuesday as President Donald Trump’s choice as secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Last month, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved Collins’ nomination by a vote of 18 to 1, setting him up for Tuesday’s confirmation vote by the full U.S. Senate.

Collins, a former Air Force chaplain, was confirmed on a 77-23 vote, becoming the latest addition to Trump’s Cabinet.

Collins was first nominated for the position by Trump in November and will oversee the VA in its mission to provide the healthcare benefits earned by U.S. veterans.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) congratulated Collins and said he “looks forward to working with him to ensure Georgia’s veterans receive the care, support, and respect they’ve earned.”

Ossoff serves as ranking member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee on military construction and veterans affairs, which oversees the VA’s budget.

Ossoff met with Collins during his confirmation process to discuss key priorities for improving the VA system for Georgia’s veterans, including the need to reduce wait times for community care appointments, strengthen mental health care services, and expand access to benefits in underserved areas.

The Department of Veterans Affairs manages a more than $350 billion budget and oversees nearly 200 medical centers and hospitals nationwide. It also manages national cemeteries and works closely with the Defense Department on personnel matters.

Collins, according to the Associated Press, has promised to cut regulations across the department and elevate the quality of care for veterans.

The challenges facing the department have evolved in recent years, with a younger generation of veterans bringing new health challenges from their service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

As a member of Congress, Collins was one of Trump’s defenders during the 45th president’s 2019 impeachment. Collins later resigned his House seat to mount an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate, losing to incumbent Kelly Loeffler. Democrat Raphael Warnock would go on to defeat Loeffler in 2020.

Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.