There's some good news for veterans out of Capitol Hill these days.

The U.S. Senate Wednesday confirmed former Hawai'i resident and decorated Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth to the post of assistant secretary for the Veterans Affairs Department.

Duckworth, a McKinley High School and University of Hawai'i-Manoa graduate, joins Hawai'i-born retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki, recently named Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The team has a tough road ahead. The VA has been plagued by years of reports, complaints and painful testimony from veterans that revealed the agency's deep, systemic problems. The department has been criticized for failing to ensure proper medical treatment for veterans and altering diagnoses to cut costs. And the challenges continue to grow as waves of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars seek treatment for injuries in unprecedented numbers -in an increasingly dire economy.

Thankfully, Duckworth and Shinseki have the strong support of Hawai'i's U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and a champion for veterans' rights and benefits.

Duckworth, a major in the Illinois National Guard, is well equipped for the challenge. She is a passionate advocate for veterans and served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Both Duckworth and Shinseki know firsthand how to navigate the VA system. Duckworth, a helicopter pilot who served in Iraq, lost both legs and partial use of one of her arms after she was injured in a grenade attack in 2004; Shinseki lost part of his foot in combat in the Vietnam War.

And there's much work to do. Several key measures affecting veterans now before Congress that would improve healthcare, enhance education services and bring benefits more in line with cost-of-living realities are poised for passage. Proper implementation of these changes will be crucial going forward.

With this strong team at the helm, veterans can expect to get the respect, benefits and advocacy they so richly deserve.