Excerpt
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): Lawmakers did something today that has become rare in this Congress, reach a compromise. House and Senate negotiators found that common ground over reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bipartisan breakthrough to try and improve patient care at the VA came after weeks of tough talks to merge competing proposals passed by the two chambers last month.
The chairs of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees announced the deal at a joint news conference this afternoon on Capitol Hill.
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont:
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, I, Vt.: Rather than go through why we didn’t do this a month ago and get it done, the important point is we are here together having done something that happens quite rarely in the United States Congress. So, I’m proud of what we accomplished.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Their total $17 billion proposal would provide $10 billion for veterans to seek out private doctors if they are unable to get an appointment within 30 days or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility, provide $5 billion to hire additional doctors and nurses, and another $1.5 billion to lease 27 new clinics around the country.
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