Shinseki promises to modernize VA

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs promises to modernize the nation’s second-largest agency and reopen health care to many middle-income veterans who didn’t qualify under the Bush administration.

Retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki tells senators in prepared remarks that streamlining the backlogged disability claims system is a priority, as well as successfully implementing new GI benefits.

The former Army chief of staff says he will apply lessons he learned transforming the Army to a more mobile force to improving the VA.

The 66-year-old Shinseki is the Army’s first four-star general of Japanese-American descent. He retired from the Army in 2003 shortly after clashing with the Bush administration on war policy.

He’s expected to have a smooth confirmation.

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