WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee member, issued the following statement after voting to confirm Denis McDonough as U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

“President Biden has expressed a desire to improve life for rural veterans. I look forward to working with Mr. McDonough to accomplish that goal by expanding access to care and supporting innovative treatments for our nation’s heroes like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Our veterans deserve nothing less than the best assistance we can offer, and I wish Mr. McDonough well as he leads the VA.”

Senator Cramer questioned Mr. McDonough at his confirmation hearing, pressing him on the importance of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) – and support for it within the VA – and inviting him to visit the HBOT clinic in Fargo. Senator Cramer hosted the previous VA Secretary for a trip to Fargo to visit its VA office and its HBOT clinic in the fall of 2019. 

Senator Cramer has been a champion of HBOT in Congress, fighting to expand its availability for veterans. Last year, President Trump signed legislation Senator Cramer wrote which:

  • authorizes the Secretary of the VA to enter into public-private partnerships to research the effectiveness of HBOT,
  • requires the VA to use an objective test to measure the effectiveness of HBOT treatment, and
  • commissions a comprehensive review and study of HBOT, both within the VA and in outside organizations. This study will be completed with a recommendation from the VA about the effectiveness of HBOT.

Learn more here.