Arlen Specter: “The committee voted unanimously on April 21 to report favorably to the full Senate the nomination of Togo D. West, Jr.…”

“The committee voted unanimously on April 21 to report favorably to the full Senate the nomination of Togo D. West, Jr. to be the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been without a permanent Secretary since Jesse Brown resigned in July 1997. This is too long a period for any department of the Federal government to be without its senior leader and manager. It is especially true for the Department of Veterans Affairs which is in a period of major transition of its health program from inpatient to outpatient care in a period of a declining real budget. In addition, the Department's administration of its benefits programs has been seriously challenged and is in need of major restructuring and effective leadership.”