By NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES Published: January 12, 2017 WASHINGTON – Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., recently took over as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs only after making certain Donald Trump was interested in “more than paying lip-service to veterans,” he said. “Talking to President-elect Trump’s team, getting to know them, it is important to him to make sure vets get the best care,” Roe said. “If they weren’t interested in doing that, then I wasn’t interested in the job. I feel like I got my back covered, and I can move forward.” Roe has stepped into the role as chairman with a plan to tackle big challenges at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He said his priorities include expanding veterans’ options for care into the private market, modernizing the process veterans use to appeal disability claims and upgrading technology at the VA. He also wants to take inventory of VA facilities and determine what can be divested and what facilities should look like in the next two decades. “That’s what’s on our plate,” Roe said Thursday in an interview with Stars and Stripes. “This is going to be a very, very busy committee.” Read the entire story below.