Trump VA pick Doug Collins advances to full Senate vote

President Donald Trump's prime to caput up the Department of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, passed a Senate cloture ballot Thursday night. 

The ballot was 83-13.

He volition proceed to a afloat ballot connected the Senate level for confirmation, which helium is expected to easy unafraid with a beardown bipartisan showing.

A erstwhile U.S. congressman, the Gainesville, Georgia autochthonal besides serves arsenic a chaplain successful the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Collins was not expected to look a hard confirmation combat and saw bipartisan enactment successful his committee hearing, with the lone objection of Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who voted against him.

HAWAII'S HIRONO ONLY SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON COLLINS, CONTINUING PARTISAN STREAK AT HEARINGS

If confirmed arsenic VA secretary, Collins would beryllium tasked with overseeing a beleaguered strategy of healthcare and benefits for the nation's veterans. 

Long hold times to spot providers, deficiency of entree to assemblage care, inadequate mental wellness support and fund shortfalls are conscionable a fewer of galore problems that person plagued secretaries past successful some Republican and Democratic administrations.

Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.