Senate Panels Advance Trump’s Nominees for VA Secretary, EPA Head

President Donald Trump’s nominees to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were advanced by two Senate panels on Jan. 23. Former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who Trump tapped to helm the VA, was advanced with bipartisan support by the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee on Thursday, one day after his testimony. In a mostly party-line vote, 11–8, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee agreed to move Trump’s EPA secretary nominee, former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), to the Senate floor. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) was the only Democrat to break ranks and vote with Republicans to advance the former congressman’s nomination....