February 04, 2025

Duckworth Votes Against Doug Collins’ Nomination to Serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) who still receives her own health care services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—released the following statement after voting against Doug Collins’ nomination to serve as VA Secretary. The U.S. Senate confirmed Rep. Collins by a vote of 77-23.

“Before Donald Trump initiated a series of illegal power grabs, I was prepared to vote to confirm Rep. Collins. I remain hopeful that we can find common ground to improve the lives of our Veterans and am glad he agreed with me that we must oppose any dangerous efforts to privatize the VA—which I still plan to hold him to. However, in light of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s illegal attack on USAID and their efforts to freeze funding that would support Veterans, I cannot vote to confirm this Administration’s nominee to lead our VA. So long as this Administration continues this rampant lawlessness, I’ll keep using my power as a U.S. Senator to push back and prevent Trump and Musk from destroying our democracy as we know it.”

-30-