This week, federal legislators took up and passed key Veterans legislation that would improve health care and health access for veterans, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, H.R. 3230 (Rogers, R-KY).
The House passed the Conference Report compromise on Wednesday 420-5 under “suspension of the rules”, a process that requires a 2/3rds majority vote. On Thursday, the Senate then proceeded to also pass the legislation, with a vote of 91-3. The bill has now been sent to the White House and the President is expected to sign the legislation into law.
H.R. 3230 would, among other things, increase access to care for veterans by allowing them to seek private care at non-VA hospitals and clinics. Also, the bill would provide funding to hire additional doctors and nurses, and finance 27 clinics and VA medical facilities throughout the country. Overall, the bill would provide $17 billion in funding to reform the Veterans Affairs Department.