Bennet Meets with VA Nominee Robert McDonald

Stresses Importance of Completing VA Hospital in Aurora

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today met with Robert McDonald, the president’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). Bennet stressed the importance of completing construction of the VA hospital in Aurora and fixing the systemic issues within the VA to ensure veterans receive the care and services they’ve earned in a timely manner.

“Colorado’s veterans have sacrificed in service to our country, and we have a responsibility to deliver on our promises to them. That includes addressing the systemic issues that have led to extreme delays many veterans face when attempting to access VA health care services. It also means expanding access to care in rural areas and improving the process for building new health care facilities, like the VA hospital under construction in Aurora that has been riddled with complications. Bob McDonald understands the importance of making sure this project is completed quickly along with the work needed to improve services for our veterans.

“As the nominee to lead the VA, he brings a breadth of experience that should benefit him as he works to reform the VA and ensure our veterans are receiving the benefits they’ve earned. I look forward to supporting his nomination and working with him in support of our veterans.”

Robert “Bob” McDonald is the former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Procter & Gamble (P&G). He retired from P&G in June 2013 after 33 years with the company.  He currently serves on the McKinsey Advisory Council, the Singapore International Advisory Council of the Economic Development Board, and on the boards of U.S. Steel and the Xerox Corporation. He previously served Vice Chair of the Business Roundtable, and was appointed by both President Bush and President Obama to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation. In 2007, Mr. McDonald received the Leadership Excellence Award presented at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership from the U.S. Naval Academy and Harvard Business Review, and has been recognized with the President’s Leadership Award from the Far East Council of Boy Scouts. He served in the U.S. Army as a Captain, primarily in the 82nd Airborne Division and received the Meritorious Service Medal. Mr. McDonald received a B.S. in Engineering from West Point and an M.B.A. from the University of Utah.