Former Rep. Doug Collins testifies during his Senate Veterans Affairs Committee confirmation hearing.
"I do not come into this with rose-colored glasses. This is a large undertaking that I feel called to be at," Collins said. "When a veteran has to call a congressman or senator’s office to get the care they have already earned, it’s a mark of failure."
In response to questions about Trump’s focus on budget cuts and a hiring freeze, Collins said he would work to ensure that did not come at the expense of veterans’ care.
"I'm gonna take care of the veterans. That means that we're not gonna balance budgets on the back of veterans benefits."
Rep. Doug Collins campaigns during his failed 2020 Senate bid in Georgia. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Collins said he aligned with Trump on allowing veterans choice for their healthcare. Trump during his first term pushed through the Mission Act, which allowed veterans to choose the VA or private care in their communities.
"I believe you can have both. I believe you have a strong VA as it currently exists and have the community care aspect," he said.
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Democrats repeatedly asked Collins to promise not to privatize the VA, so many times that Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., asked him to "pinky swear" not to do it. Collins held up his pinky to promise that would not happen.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doug-collins-confirmed-trumps-veterans-affairs-secretary