Senate committee approves Peake to lead VA

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Senate committee approves Peake to lead VA
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 13, 2007 19:35:53 EST

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously approved the nomination of retired Lt. Gen. James Peake to be the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday, and the full Senate could approve the appointment by the end of the day.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, the committee chairman, said the only serious questions about Peake, a former Army surgeon general who spent 39 years on active duty, involved his post-service employment by a company that held contracts to provide medical examinations and other services to VA.

“His answers were very good,” Akaka said. “I am completely satisfied.”

Peake promised to break all ties to QTC Management, where he had worked as chief medical officer and chief executive officer, and to also recuse himself from any VA issues that might involve the company.

At his Dec. 5 confirmation hearing, Peake said he had been with the company for less than a year. He also pledged to do whatever Congress felt was necessary to avoid a conflict of interest or the perception of one.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/military_peake_071213/