WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi
 issued the following statement today after President Bush nominated retired
 Army Lieutenant General James B. Peake to be the new Secretary of Veterans
 Affairs:
 
     "The Bush Administration is overdue in appointing someone to lead the
 Department of Veterans Affairs who will ensure that all veterans receive
 the quality, timely health care they deserve - particularly our brave men
 and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
     "This is a time for independent, forceful leadership at the VA that is
 accountable to America's veterans and committed to the highest quality VA
 care.
 
     "I am hopeful that Dr. James Peake is the right man to the lead the VA
 and will work with Congress to persuade President Bush to sign our
 legislation providing the largest increase for veterans' health care in
 history."
 
 
 
 
 

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House