WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)-- Senators grilled President Donald Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tuesday.  Former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) promised to be veterans' biggest advocate if confirmed as the VA secretary. "The mission is the vet," Collins told the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee multiple times. "The VA does not exist in and of itself. It exists for the veteran." However, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) asked Collins if he meant all veterans. "I care deeply about our women veterans and that they have the services they need," Murray said.  After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the VA started offering abortion services to military veterans and their families in certain cases. Republicans have argued any rule change should go through Congress. "We will be looking at that issue when I get in there to confirm the VA is actually following the law," Collins said. Another issue before senators came from an executive order President Donald Trump signed at the White House Monday, related to the Afghanistan withdrawal. "Sir, this is an executive order realigning the United States Refugee Admission Program to better align with American principles and American interests," a White House official said. This action puts flights in limbo for more than 1,600 Afghans the U.S. government cleared to resettle here, including family members of active-duty military personnel. "The risks to these Afghan allies are so dire and dangerous, and many of our veterans' groups have been advocates for them," said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Blumenthal did not specifically ask Collins how he could intervene, but both said they are still seeing how other new executive orders, like a federal hiring freeze, could impact VA services. The VA is the largest civilian agency in the federal government with nearly half a million workers.