Tester pushes for more vaccines for veterans as VA committee chair
Tester meets with Biden to push for more vaccines for veterans
By: Jay Kohn
and last updated 2021-02-03 22:55:44-05
Put U.S. veterans at the top of the COVID vaccine priority list- that was the message delivered to President Joe Biden from Montana Sen. Jon Tester on Wednesday.
Tester, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, was among top Senate Democrats who met with the president to discuss details of the administration s new COVID relief package.
Included in the president s $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan is $17 billion for veterans to fuel a robust vaccine distribution effort that Tester said is currently bogged down along the supply chain.
McDonough s Nomination for VA Secretary Advances
Then White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough delivers remarks at a farewell ceremony for outgoing Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon, Dec. 2, 2013. (Dept. of Defense/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Hinton)
2 Feb 2021
Former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough is one step closer to leading the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously approved his nomination, sending it to the full Senate for a vote. Senate leaders have not announced when they plan to bring the nomination to the Senate floor.
During a meeting Tuesday, committee Chairman Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said McDonough has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to public service and a deep understanding that taking care of our veterans is a cost of war.
Nearly 20 years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, tens of thousands of U.S. troops remain in the Middle East, including members of the National Guard from throughout the country.