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UPDATE: FULL SENATE CONFIRMS MICHAEL KUSSMAN

AS VA'S UNDERSECRETARY FOR HEALTH -- VA Secretary

Jim Nicholson calls it "Good news." Many veterans'

advocates disagree.

 

Dr. Michael Kussman testifies.

 

What we learned:  The system works if you know how to work the system.

Dr. Michael Kussman has been confirmed as the VA's Undersecretary for Health.

And the system pulled out all the stops to make this happen.

The VA, working with the major service organizations, put heat on Members of the Senate to confirm Kussman.  And, that happened.

Kussman will bring "more of the same" politics and inaction to VA healthcare.

Paul Sullivan, former VA employee and head of Veterans for Common Sense, has asked, "...where was Kussman when veterans were turned away for medical care? Where was Kussman when VA needed medical records? Where was Kussman when VA needed more doctors to help with the hundreds of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who’ll need medical care for PTSD and TBI?"

Kussman was consistently stating that the VA was properly funded and had adequate staffing.

Contrary to what VA Secretary Nicholson says in the press release below, this is NOT "good news" for veterans.

VA press release here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/
07/vap07/vap052507-1.htm

Press release below:

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Senate Confirms VA’s Kussman and Harvey

May 25, 2007

Nicholson: Appointments “Good News” for Veterans

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate confirmed appointments today of two experienced veterans’ advocates to top jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) where they will serve as VA’s senior physician and chief of congressional affairs.

Dr. Michael J. Kussman was confirmed as Under Secretary for Health, and Thomas E. Harvey was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs.

“The continued service of these two dedicated public servants will significantly advance the interests of America’s veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “Their confirmations are good news for veterans and their families.”

Kussman, a native of Troy, N.Y., joined VA in 2000. Among his VA positions, he has served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health and since August 2006 as Acting Under Secretary for Health.

A graduate of Boston University Medical School, he is a retired Army brigadier general who spent more than 25 years on active duty. He commanded the Walter Reed Health Care System and the European Regional Medical Command.

Harvey, who holds a law degree from the University of Notre Dame, commanded an airborne infantry company during the Vietnam War. He holds the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

He was deputy administrator of VA’s predecessor organization, the Veterans Administration, from 1986 to 1989. A former chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, he has also been General Counsel for the U.S. Information Agency, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Logistics.

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Larry Scott