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Lowey 'Very Pleased' With VA Secretary's Resignation

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- Speaking after Mount Kisco's Memorial Day service on Friday, Rep. Nita Lowey was supportive of the resignation of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.

Rep. Nita Lowey speaks at Mount Kisco's 2014 Memorial Day service.

Rep. Nita Lowey speaks at Mount Kisco's 2014 Memorial Day service.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

“I was very pleased,” she said.

Lowey, whose congressional district stretches across Westchester County, is the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, which has oversight of the VA. Her district also includes a VA hospital in Montrose. She also recalled having several hearings and closed meetings with Shinseki, with backlog an issue included.

Shinseki's resignation came following the release of an inspector general's interim report - it is available here - concerning schedule and wait time manipulation.

“As soon as that interim report came out, I called for him stepping down,” she said.

Lowey also called the matter the “most outrageous situation I have seen." 

Lowey cited a lack of leadership ability to deal with the allegations as a reason why she wanted Shinseki to resign.

The controversy and report have been major news stories recently, with stories including several public figures calling for Shinseski's resignation.

For more information about the story, click here for Shinseki's resignation statement and here for President Barack Obama's remarks about it.

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