Washington — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Doug Collins as secretary of veterans affairs, putting the former congressman and Iraq War veteran at the helm of a department that provides crucial care to America's veterans.

The Senate voted 77-23 to confirm Collins, who had served in Congress for nearly a decade before briefly leaving public office.

By a wide margin,U.S. Representative Doug Collins was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the next United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.