Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Nominee For VA Secretary Chief Sails Through Committee And Is Headed For Full Senate Confirmation
The Associated Press: Senate Panel OKs Trump's Pick To Lead Troubled VA
A Senate panel voted Tuesday to approve President Donald Trump's nominee to lead Veterans Affairs, a department beset by political infighting and turmoil over providing health care. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee agreed on voice vote to back Robert Wilkie, currently serving as a Pentagon undersecretary. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont cast a "no" vote. (Yen, 7/10)
The Washington Post: Robert Wilkie, Trump’s Pick For Veterans Affairs Secretary, Clears Key Senate Hurdle
The senators approved sending Wilkie’s nomination to the Senate floor in a voice vote, with only Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) being recorded as a no, according to a committee spokeswoman. Sanders’s vote was not a reflection on Wilkie personally but as a result of his concern that the Trump administration plans to privatize veterans’ health care, a spokesman for the senator said. The committee’s chairman, Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), issued a statement after Tuesday’s vote calling Wilkie a respected and talented nominee and urging the Senate to approve his nomination to run the embattled federal agency. (Rein and Sonne, 7/10)
The Hill: VA Nominee Heads To Full Senate Confirmation
Wilkie, who served as acting VA secretary until he stepped down after being nominated for secretary, is a Washington insider with years of administrative experience who has previously worked on Capitol Hill as well as in the Pentagon for two presidents. (Weixel, 7/10)
In other veterans health care news —
The Hill: FDA Approves Freeze-Dried Blood Plasma For Troops In Combat
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday approved freeze-dried blood plasma for use to treat combat injuries from U.S. troops, after a dispute over whether access would be allowed. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) last year tried to go around the FDA by granting the Department of Defense the ability to allow the freeze-dried plasma use. (Sullivan, 7/10)
