(The Dallas Morning News, By Jim Whaley) – The new secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, has the potential to drastically change veterans’ experiences for the better.

It can often feel like what’s happening on Capitol Hill is only distantly linked to our lives, but the reality is the decisions Collins and his team make will immediately be felt by veterans nationwide. As Collins enters his new role, his top priority must be making the VA work smarter for all veterans. This means listening to voices outside of Washington.

As Collins aims to address ongoing challenges within the VA, his leadership will be vital for Texas veterans. Home to the largest veteran population of any state, Texas has over 1.5 million veterans who rely on VA services for health care, benefits and employment support. This concentration of veterans means that the VA’s policies, programs and shortfalls have an outsize impact on Texas veterans specifically. This is especially the case in major cities where many veterans live, such as North Texas, San Antonio, Houston and El Paso.

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