Senate could vote on VA nominee's confirmation before the August break

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell named Leslie Dach, a former Wal-Mart vice president, to be a senior adviser as part of Burwell's effort to head off difficulties in the upcoming health law enrollment period. 

Politico: Robert McDonald Could Soon Be Confirmed To VA
The Senate is expected to vote on the White House's nominee to lead the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs before senators leave for a five-week August recess, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Wednesday. Robert McDonald was cleared by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on Wednesday by a 14 - 0 vote (French, 7/23).

The Hill: Burwell Appoints New Counselor From Wal-Mart
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell continued her management shake-up Wednesday by naming a former vice president at Wal-Mart as senior adviser. The move to bring Leslie Dach to HHS reveals Burwell's interest in heading off problems during ObamaCare's second enrollment period, due to start in November. The new HHS secretary also wants to add professionals with significant private sector experience to her inner circle (Viebeck, 7/23).

In addition, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's lab resigns -

Politico: CDC Lab Head Quits After Anthrax Scare
The head of a laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the spotlight after dozens of employees were potentially exposed to live anthrax bacteria has resigned. Michael Farrell resigned on Tuesday, CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said. Farrell had led the Bioterror Rapid Response and Advanced Technology laboratory on the agency's Atlanta campus since 2009 (Norman, 7/23).