For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

- Murray talks about the new VA nominee

"After months of delay, we now have a nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The President's lack of leadership on this critical appointment mirrors his Administration's failure to count the care of our veterans as a cost of war. 

"James Peake has served our nation honorably in military service for over 40 years and I look forward to hearing his plans to serve our veterans at this critical moment in our nation's history.

"Given Dr. Peake's past posts running the Army health care system he will have serious and significant questions to answer about failed preparations for our returning wounded warriors.  For months we've been hearing horror stories from Walter Reed and other military care centers and I will want to know what role, if any, Dr. Peake played in the failures of the system.

"The burden is on Dr. Peake to prove to veterans around the country that he can be the honest, independent advocate we need to turn the VA around."