Tester Helps Usher Two VA Nominees Through Senate

Senate Approves Nominees to Increase Accountability, Advance Information & Technology

(U.S. Senate) – Ranking Member Jon Tester helped confirm two nominees to serve veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Tamara Bonzanto has been confirmed as VA Assistant Secretary of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection and James Gfrerer will serve as VA Assistant Secretary of Information and Technology.

“The VA needs strong leaders at the top while it implements our various bipartisan reforms,” said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “With good communication and hard work, Ms. Bonzanto and Mr. Gfrerer will strengthen the VA by protecting whistleblowers and better serve veterans by modernizing the Electronic Health Record System.”

Following a confirmation hearing and personal meetings with each nominee, Tester voted to advance Bonzanto and Gfrerer to the Senate floor for final consideration.

Bonzanto is nominated to advise VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on how to better hold the VA accountable to veterans and taxpayers, while ensuring that whistleblowers within the Department are protected and their cases are handled fairly. If confirmed, Bonzanto will be the first individual to permanently hold this office, which was created as a part of Tester’s VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.

Gfrerer is nominated to help lead the VA’s efforts to modernize its Electronic Health Record System. Tester introduced the Veterans’ Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act to ensure the VA is transparent in its plan to roll out the new system for nine million veterans.

Tester has supported each of the 16 nominees who have come before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to serve veterans at the VA, Department of Labor, and as judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.