PORTLAND - U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, who lost his bid last month to chair the House Veterans Affairs Committee, will serve as chairman of its subcommittee on health.

The 2nd District Democrat was unanimously elected to that post Tuesday during an organizational meeting of the committee.

Michaud vowed to continue to work with veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs and his congressional colleagues to fulfill the nation's promises to veterans and their families.

"With both an aging population and a new generation of veterans coming from Iraq and Afghanistan, it is critical that the VA has the resources necessary to meet their diverse needs," he said in a statement. "My subcommittee will be examining issues important to veterans in Maine and across the country, especially funding for VA medical care."

In the previous Congress, Michaud served as the ranking Democrat on the subcommitee, which has jurisdiction over veterans hospitals, medical care and treatment of veterans.

By a 24-20 vote, the Democratic Steering Committee last month chose Rep. Bob Filner of California over Michaud as chairman of the full committee.

Michaud said at the time that he and Filner share a similar agenda of improving health care for veterans but that he would be more willing to reach out to Republicans.

Michaud had the endorsement of the panel's top Democrat, Rep. Lane Evans of Illinois, who retired because of illness.