Why is Tammy Duckworth Still Waiting For Job To Help Veterans?

While President Obama has his hands full of problems this nation faces, the veterans have waited far too long to be provided with the care they earned. Yesterday I posted how tens of thousands of claims were not even opened. We've read stories of claims being shredded in the past, of willful misdiagnosis of PTSD claims, of 800,000 backlogged claims and over 300,000 claims on appeal still waiting. While it seems the veterans are very important to President Obama, just as they were when he wanted to be on the committee to take care of them, they are still waiting. With someone like Tammy Duckworth, someone President Obama knows will do a fine job, has already given up her job in Illinois, she is waiting to get to work to help our veterans. It's time her nomination was sent to Congress and get this wonderful woman to work for the veterans sake!

Tammy Duckworth's D.C. post still on hold

By Dan Carden Daily Herald StaffContact writer

SPRINGFIELD - One month ago, Tammy Duckworth looked to be on the fast track to an important job in President Barack Obama's new administration.

The Hoffman Estates resident quit her job as head of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs on Feb. 6 and prepared to become the face of the federal VA as the assistant secretary of public and intergovernmental affairs.

One month later, that fast track to Washington, D.C., isn't moving so fast.

It turns out Obama did not actually nominate Duckworth on Feb. 3, but only indicated his intent to nominate the Iraq war veteran. The White House has still not sent Duckworth's nomination to the U.S. Senate.

"We're still waiting for the nomination," said Kawika Riley, press secretary for the Senate's veterans affairs committee. "When the paper comes we'll be very happy."

A White House spokeswoman told the Daily Herald Tuesday there is no specific reason for the delay in formally nominating Duckworth. Of the thousands of government positions appointed by the White House and needing Senate confirmation, only 42 have been sent up to Capitol Hill. Four of those nominees withdrew following problematic background checks.

Long delays filling positions at the start of new administrations are not unusual, agreed VA spokeswoman Jo Schuda.

"We don't even have names of people for most of the other positions," Schuda said. "The naming of her was pretty swift."

Attempts to reach Duckworth on Monday and Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Should the nomination ever come, Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka, a Hawaii Democrat, already signaled his support for Duckworth, calling her a "fine choice" and "a source of inspiration for the newest generation of veterans." Duckworth's nomination must be approved by the Veterans Affairs Committee and the full Senate before she can take her post.

In February, VA head Eric K. Shinseki said Duckworth would bring "significant talent, leadership and personal experience to this important work."
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