House and Senate negotiators late Monday signed a conference committee agreement on legislation that would allocate about $17 billion to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs.The agreement, filed in the House of Representatives shortly before midnight, includes $5 billion for strengthening the VA by recruiting more doctors, nurses and other medical providers and other measures. It allots $10 billion to help veterans access care from private doctors if they have been on waiting lists for more than a month or don't live near VA facilities. Some $2 billion more is set aside for additional veterans benefits. “Planes and tanks and guns are a cost of war,” Sanders said. “'So is taking care of the men and women who use those weapons and fight our battles.”
SUMMARY: The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014
Strengthen VA to Meet Veterans’ Needs
Bolster VA Staffing: The legislation would provide the VA funds to hire additional primary
and specialty health care providers along with other clinical staff to increase the department’s
capacity to provide high-quality health care to our nation’s veterans. The measure also would
provide enhanced incentives to attract more doctors and nurses and other health care
professionals to the VA. VA’s Access to Care Audit found that the need for additional doctors,
nurses and other medical providers was the highest barrier or challenge to access to care.
Add Space for Veterans Care: The VA’s physical infrastructure plays a significant role in
its ability to provide timely, quality care to veterans in a safe environment. The legislation
would provide funds to enter emergency leases for facilities that would directly improve
veterans’ access to care.
Authorize New Clinics: The legislation would authorize VA to enter into 27 major medical
facility leases in 18 states and Puerto Rico. In many instances, these leases would improve
access to care closer to veterans’ homes and increase the availability of specialty-care services
in these locations.
Expand Access to Care
Veterans Choice Card: The legislation would allow veterans who have had to wait more
than 30 days for an appointment with the VA to seek care from a private physician, a
community health center, a Department of Defense health care facility or an Indian Health
Center. Veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility also would be eligible for this
program.
Support Veterans and their Families
Sexual Assault: The legislation would improve the delivery of care for veterans who
experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military.
Survivor Benefits: The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship would be
expanded to include surviving spouses of service members killed in the line of duty, so that
they can go further their education, rebuild their lives and take care of their families.
In-State Tuition for Post-9/11 GI Bill: The legislation would let all veterans eligible for
education benefits under the Post 9/11 GI qualify for in-state tuition.
TBI Treatment The bill would extend a program about to expire which provides housing for
veterans struggling with traumatic brain injuries.
Remove Incompetent Senior Officials
Authority to Fire VA Executives for Misconduct: The VA secretary would be given the
authority to immediately remove incompetent senior executives based on poor job
performance or misconduct. An expedited appeals process through the Merit Systems
Protection Board would prevent political firings or other abuses of the new personnel power,
such as retaliation against whistle blowers.
The Cost of War
“Planes and tanks and guns are a cost of war,” Sen. Bernie Sanders said. “So is taking care of
the men and women who use those weapons and fight our battles.”
The conference committee agreement would cost approximately $17 billion. The measure
would provide $10 billion for veterans to receive health care outside of the VA. It includes $5
billion to bolster’s VA’s in-house capacity to treat veterans. An estimated $2 billion would be
allotted for additional programs, such as the 27 health care leases, expanded college benefits
and scholarships for surviving spouses. The measure would offset some of the costs with
approximately $5 billion in savings from programs within the jurisdiction of the Senate and
House Veterans’ Affairs Committees.
Read a summary, Read the bill, Read the conference report statement