WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a statement following the Senate’s confirmation by unanimous consent of the nomination of Michael Missal to serve as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General:
“I’m pleased that the Senate has finally done its job and confirmed Michael Missal to serve as the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Missal is a well-qualified nominee who stands ready and willing to serve our country and the brave servicemen and servicewomen who have fought for it, and I look forward to supporting him in that mission.
“However, America’s veterans and taxpayers should not have had to wait this long for permanent leadership at the VA Office of Inspector General. For the last two years, the department has operated without an Inspector General approved by this body. And unfortunately, this is not just a problem at the VA—far too many IG positions have remained vacant for far too long. Today’s confirmation makes progress on that front, but I hope we can continue to work together to more quickly fill these important posts.”