Duckworth swearing-in for VA job put on hold - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Duckworth swearing-in for VA job put on hold

Disabled Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth’s hopes of having a Friday swearing in ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to become part of the Obama administration have been put on hold because the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee won’t be voting Thursday on her nomination.

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, ranking Republican on the committee, objected to allowing a vote on Duckworth’s nomination but will allow a Thursday vote to confirm Scott Gould to take the No. 2 post at the VA, as deputy secretary.

Duckworth, who has been Illinois veterans’ affairs chief, is nominated to become assistant VA secretary for intergovernmental affairs, a post that would make her the chief contact between the VA and outside world, including Congress, the media and veterans.

Republican aides said the senator is not blocking her nomination, describing the delay as a matter of paperwork and timing. The committee has had full information on Gould longer than the paperwork on Duckworth, which is why the vote was put off.

Duckworth is an Illinois National Guard major who remained in the Guard despite the fact she lost both legs in a 2004 incident in Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit the helicopter she was piloting.

Duckworth and Gould testified Wednesday before the Senate committee, which was scheduling a Thursday morning vote on the pair so the full Senate could confirm them before Congress leaves on a two-week break.

On Wednesday night, plans changed, sources said. Gould is still on the fast track but Duckworth’s nomination won’t come to a vote until Burr gets answers to some questions, Senate sources said, without specifying exactly what Burr wanted to know.

Duckworth could not be reached for comment.

Arrangements were being made for Duckworth to be sworn in Friday as assistant VA secretary in a ceremony in rehabilitation ward at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where she recovered from her injuries. Duckworth called that fitting because of “all the time I spent there” and because it would be an inspirational message for other service members recovering from combat wounds.

The swearing in ceremony can be rescheduled, but there will be a delay. The Senate will be wrapping up its work on Thursday or Friday and will begin a two-week Easter recess that won’t see the Senate committee prepared for another vote before April 21.