WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump nominated Robert Wilkie, a former senior advisor to Senator Tillis, as Secretary of the VA:
“I’m proud to call Robert Wilkie my friend and former senior adviser. Robert is one of the most honorable and decent human beings I’ve ever worked with, and anyone who knows him has seen his drive to serve his country and his passion for honoring our nation’s veterans and servicemembers, qualities that will be tremendous assets at the VA.
“Through his many years of distinguished service as a leader in both the executive and legislative branches, Robert has earned the respect of the Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill.
“As my senior adviser, Robert was instrumental in advising me on veterans' issues and the legislative priorities of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Robert holds pragmatic and commonsense views on modernizing the agency and upholding its core mission of providing veterans with the best health care, resources, and support possible. He understands that while the VA Choice Program was born out of necessity, nothing beats the value of a veteran receiving world-class care from highly qualified medical professionals at the VA.
“Robert will be a great VA Secretary, and I look forward to getting him confirmed.”
Background on Robert Wilkie:
Robert Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is the current Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, confirmed unanimously by the Senate in November 2017. Wilkie served as Senator Tillis’ senior advisor since Tillis took office in 2015 until late 2017, advising him on national security, military, and veterans affairs issues. Wilkie previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. He also served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for National Security Affairs and as Senior Director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
“I’m proud to call Robert Wilkie my friend and former senior adviser. Robert is one of the most honorable and decent human beings I’ve ever worked with, and anyone who knows him has seen his drive to serve his country and his passion for honoring our nation’s veterans and servicemembers, qualities that will be tremendous assets at the VA.
“Through his many years of distinguished service as a leader in both the executive and legislative branches, Robert has earned the respect of the Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill.
“As my senior adviser, Robert was instrumental in advising me on veterans' issues and the legislative priorities of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Robert holds pragmatic and commonsense views on modernizing the agency and upholding its core mission of providing veterans with the best health care, resources, and support possible. He understands that while the VA Choice Program was born out of necessity, nothing beats the value of a veteran receiving world-class care from highly qualified medical professionals at the VA.
“Robert will be a great VA Secretary, and I look forward to getting him confirmed.”
Background on Robert Wilkie:
Robert Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is the current Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, confirmed unanimously by the Senate in November 2017. Wilkie served as Senator Tillis’ senior advisor since Tillis took office in 2015 until late 2017, advising him on national security, military, and veterans affairs issues. Wilkie previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. He also served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for National Security Affairs and as Senior Director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
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