Tester Votes to Confirm VA Deputy Secretary Nominee

Senator confirms nominee tasked with providing leadership for veterans across the country

Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Jon Tester today voted to confirm James Byrne, President Trump’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“It’s our job to ensure that VA leadership is fully committed to serving our nation’s veterans,” Ranking Member Tester said. “Today, the Senate worked across the aisle to confirm Secretary Byrne as VA’s second-in-command, where he is expected to provide steady leadership on behalf of veterans across the country. Secretary Byrne has shown a commitment to providing veterans and their families with the benefits and quality care they deserve, and I’ll continue working with him to put politics aside and ensure VA is firing on all cylinders to do right by those who served.”

The Senate voted 81-11 to confirm Byrne’s nomination.

In June, Tester voted to advance Byrne’s nomination to the Senate floor. He has supported each nominee that has come before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to serve veterans at the VA, Department of Labor, and as judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Byrne was nominated by the President for the second-highest leadership position at the VA on April 29, 2019. In August 2018, he began performing the duties of Deputy Secretary while simultaneously serving as General Counsel, for which he was confirmed in August of 2017.