White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders heralded praise for Tuesday’s bipartisan Senate Veterans Affairs Committee vote advancing President Donald Trump’s nominee to head Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie.
“We applaud the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for the overwhelming, bipartisan vote to favorably report Robert Wilkie to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs,” said Sanders.
Sanders highlighted Wilkie’s history and qualification for the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “Mr. Wilkie’s service as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness; Committee testimony; and previous Senate confirmations, most recently last fall by unanimous consent, demonstrate his stellar qualifications for this role,” said Sanders.
Wilkie appears to have a clear path to confirmation if the Senate’s confirmation of him as undersecretary of Veterans Affairs last November is any indication.
The Senate Veterans Affairs committee moved Wilkie’s nomination forward on a voice vote Tuesday. CNN reported that Sen. Bernie Sanders was not present, but asked for his vote to be recorded as “no.”
Press Secretary Sanders offered reassurance of the president’s support for America’s military service members. “President Donald J. Trump remains committed to ensuring our nation’s heroes receive the care they deserve, and he is confident that Mr. Wilkie will continue the Administration’s important work on behalf of the veterans community,” she said Tuesday.
“We look forward to the full Senate confirming him as soon as possible,” said Sanders.
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