Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I am pleased to honor Secretary Principi for his diligent and effective tenure as the Secretary of the Department of…”

“I am pleased to honor Secretary Principi for his diligent and effective tenure as the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Secretary Principi has served our Nation during a historic time, and has done an impressive job with one of the most challenging positions in the government. I am proud to have worked with him. When I travel around the State of Texas, I am reminded of the work Secretary Principi has done on behalf of veterans. He was always available to discuss the needs of Texas veterans and provided an open dialogue to our communities. I am particularly grateful for the time he spent with me touring VA facilities in Texas to learn what was important to our veterans. Over the years, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the veterans it serves have been severely challenged by the skyrocketing costs of healthcare and the surging demand for services from an aging veteran population. Throughout his time at the Department, Secretary Principi worked to ensure healthcare accessibility was a priority. Across the country, the VA has opened 194 community clinics and 87 percent of the veteran population now lives within 30 minutes of a VA medical facility. Additionally, under Secretary Principi's leadership, the Department reduced the number of veterans waiting more than 6 months for primary care and cut in half the wait time for an appointment. These important accomplishments have improved the healthcare for our service men and women.”