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Death of VA nurse Alex Pretti hovers over hearing on the Hill with VA secretary

NPR

By Quil Lawrence

Published January 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM EST

VA secretary Doug Collins is appearing before senators to explain plans to overhaul the department. But some of the focus of the hearing was also on his comments about the killing of Alex Preeti.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Quil Lawrence

Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.

See stories by Quil Lawrence

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