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.

The Senate confirmed Doug Collins, an Air Force Reserve chaplain and former Republican House representative, to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.