Durbin Praises Duckworth Nomination for VA Assistant Secretary

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised President Obama's choice of Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"Tammy Duckworth is uniquely qualified to serve as an Assistant Secretary for the VA," said Durbin. "She has done an exceptional job as the head of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, drawing on her life experience to improve the care given to soldiers in Illinois' veterans hospitals. I look forward to working with her to address the VA's growing challenge of caring for the young men and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan and our nation's veterans."

Durbin first met Duckworth at Walter Reed Army Medical Center while she was recuperating from injuries received when the Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting over Iraq was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. In the attack, she lost her left leg and her right leg has since been amputated. She spent months recovering at Walter Reed, facing multiple surgeries, extensive rehab and continuous upgrades of her prostheses. Duckworth was presented with a Purple Heart and awarded an Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

Durbin invited Duckworth as his guest to the State of the Union in 2005. In 2006, she was appointed the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. As assistant secretary, Duckworth will direct VA's public affairs, internal communications and intergovernmental relations. She also will oversee programs for homeless Veterans, consumer affairs and special rehabilitative events.

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