Secretary principal leaving VA.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi has announced he is leaving the VA after nearly four years as head of the second largest federal agency.

"Secretary Principi has served America's veterans with integrity and dignity," said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. "He has built a solid reputation as a compassionate steward of the federal agency specifically created to meet the unique needs of America's sick and disabled veterans, and he has earned the utmost respect of those he has dedicated his life to serving."

"The DAV has been fortunate indeed to have worked with Secretary Principi in our shared mission of service to America's veterans, their families and survivors," said DAV Washington Headquarters Executive Director David W. Gorman. "It is vital that the next head of the VA be a strong advocate for the men and women who have served and sacrificed to preserve our precious freedoms. The policy-makers in Washington must make veterans a national priority. America's veterans deserve nothing, less than the best this nation has to offer."

"Secretary Principi has been a steadfast advocate for veterans over the past four years. During his tenure, the Administration. Congress, and veterans across the country benefited from his vision, leadership, and hard work," said Gorman.

In the past few years, the VA has begun the largest and most extensive restructuring of its health care system in history. During his term, Secretary Principi has been credited with improving health care services for sick and disabled veterans, even though the VA budget has not kept pace with the increased demand for care and the growing enrollment. Under Principi's leadership, the VA has moved ahead with efforts to open outpatient clinics throughout the country to provide primary care to veterans in their communities.

The VA also has been working to cut the time it takes to decide disability claims in the face of a huge backlog and a tide of new, often complex, claims. The average processing time for disability claims was reduced by 33%, from 233 days in 2002 to 156 days in 2003.

"Secretary Principi also has played a vital role in helping to streamline the transition from military to civilian status for America's newest veterans, including those wounded and disabled in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war oil terrorism," said Adjutant Wilson.

"With Secretary Principi at the helm, the VA charted a course that will enable the agency to serve veterans more effectively and more compassionately in the future. This is especially important as our nation is at war, and those men and women leaving the military to join the ranks of America's proud veterans deserve nothing but the best from the country they served and protected, often at great personal sacrifice." Wilson noted. "Secretary Principi will be missed, but his legacy will remain."