Trump picks ex-congressman Doug Collins for veterans affairs secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday he intends to nominate former Representative Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs.

"We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement.

Collins, who served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, unsuccessfully ran for election to be a U.S. senator for Georgia in 2020. He is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits, health care, and cemetery services to military veterans. It employs nearly 371,000 health care professionals and support staff at VA medical facilities across the country.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Jamie Freed)