SLIDELL, LA – Military-Veterans Advocacy, a Louisiana-based non-profit serving the interests of veterans and active-duty personnel, joined Congressman Ralph Abraham Wednesday in opposing the appointment of Skye McDougall as director of the South Central VA Health Care Network, which serves veterans in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Abraham called on Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald Tuesday to rescind the appointment, as had been done previously when Sen. John McCain objected to McDouggal's appointment to a similar post in the Southwest. Military-Veterans Advocacy Executive Director John Wells also asked McDonald to remove McDougall from consideration.
McDougall is currently being investigated for allegedly lying to Congress during hearings about the efficiency of the VA Health Care system.
"Our veterans deserve the top medical care and their treatment should not be compromised by someone who has not demonstrated the highest level of competence," Wells wrote to McDonald. "To ensure the quality of care our veterans deserve, senior executives must inspire trust, especially in light of the various scandals within your Department. McDougall does not."
Wells also praised Abraham's swift pronouncement Tuesday.
"Congressman Abraham's advocacy on behalf of our veterans is commendable and greatly appreciated," said Wells, an attorney and retired Navy commander. "I hope others in the Louisiana congressional delegation will follow suit and ask Secretary McDonald to remove McDougall's name from consideration."
Military-Veterans Advocacy is a tax exempt non-profit corporation based in Slidell, LA.
