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“The unanimous confirmation of Patricia Ross to serve as VA Assistant Secretary for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs is a joyous victory for America’s veterans and their families and caregivers."
This week, that senator has a name.
As reported by Stars & Stripes, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn, is the lawmaker responsible for the stall. Blackburn argued Tuesday that she will delay confirmation until the agency indefinitely. That is, until VA provides its official position on the cost and implementation of the Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops of War Act of 2021.
The confirmations impacted by the hold or stall include:
Donald Remy: nominated to be the Deputy Secretary (top middle)
Matthew Quinn: nominated to be under secretary for memorial affairs (bottom right)
Maryanne Donaghy: nominated to lead VA’s whistleblower protection office (bottom middle)
Senator holds up confirmation process for key VA positionsÂ
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WASHINGTON â Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., insisted on the Senate floor Tuesday that she would delay the confirmation process for key Department of Veterans Affairs positions until the VA secretary responds to her requests for information about a piece of legislation. Â
Blackburn, a member of the Senate Veteransâ Affairs Committee, voted last month to advance four VA nominees to the Senate floor. However, she placed a hold on the confirmation process, keeping the nominees from being confirmed and sworn into their jobs. Â
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the chairman of the committee, went to the Senate floor Tuesday and asked senators to confirm the nominees by unanimous consent. Blackburn objected. She said she would continue to object until VA Secretary Denis McDonough responded to her request for feedback about the Cost of War Act, which would extend disability benefits to veterans of all eras
Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks at the Senate Hearing on Pending Nominations in support of Patricia Ross, who currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Speaker, to serve as Assistant Secretary for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at Department of Veterans Affairs.