ATLANTA – The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to confirm former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins of Gainesville as secretary of veterans affairs.
The Republican nominated for the post by President Donald Trump received strong bipartisan backing in a 77-23 vote, with both of Georgia’s Democratic senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, supporting the nominee.
“I congratulate Congressman Collins on his confirmation as our next VA secretary and look forward to working with him to ensure Georgia’s veterans receive the care, support, and respect they’ve earned,” Ossoff said in a prepared statement.
Collins, 58, served in the Georgia House from 2007 to 2013 before being elected to the U.S. House representing Georgia’s 9th Congressional District. As ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, he gained national attention as one of Trump’s most vocal supporters during an impeachment inquiry launched during the president’s first term in 2019.
Collins was Trump’s preferred pick to run for the U.S. Senate following the retirement of the late Sen. Johnny Isakson. But Gov. Brian Kemp instead appointed Kelly Loeffler to fill the vacancy.
Collins ran for Loeffler’s seat in 2020 but failed to make the January 2021 runoff. Warnock defeated Loeffler in the runoff to win election to the Senate.