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Walz fails on VA leadership bid, remains on committee

November 20, 2014 at 2:55AM

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, questions witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs as the panel investigates allegations of gross mismanagement and misconduct at VA hospitals possibly leading to patient deaths, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 28, 2014. (Dml - Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Rep. Tim Walz didn't make highest ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee Wednesday despite high-profile endorsements from the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans for America and other veterans. He lost out to someone more senior than Walz, Florida Rep. Corinne Brown, who has served on the VA committee for 22 years and will be the first African-American to serve in the post. Walz has been on the committee since 2007. In a statement, Walz called the results disappointing and wished Brown well. "This has always been about doing all I can to advocate for and serve veterans and their families. I will continue to that," he said. Brown had the endorsement of Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Walz, a veteran himself with the Army National Guard, stressed service and experience in solving what he called a crisis within the Veterans Administration. Walz will remain on the committee in the new Congress in January.