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In today's Federal Newscast, there are many Democrats in Congress worried about VA's new regulations expanding veterans' access to private care.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has six months to consolidate disparate community care programs into one, revamped veterans choice program. But lawmakers are concerned VA won't successfully meet its deadlines amid a "constant churn" of agency leadership.
Lawmakers have struck a deal to give the Veterans Affairs Department its biggest budget yet but still lack a long-term plan to fund the agency's new community care program under the VA MISSION Act.
Robert Wilkie, the president's nominee for secretary of Veterans Affairs, said he would faithfully implement the VA MISSION Act, but oppose efforts to fully-privatize VA health care.
Lawmakers are still trying to find a permanent funding source for the VA MISSION Act, as the president publicly expressed his disagreement with some of the new law's finer points.
President Donald Trump signed the VA MISSION Act into law, but Senate appropriators say the Veterans Affairs Department will still face funding shortfalls without further action.
In today's Federal Newscast, bipartisan legislation in the Senate would shorten the deadline for the Defense department to pay defense contractors who work with small businesses.
The VA MISSION Act cleared the Senate with a 92-5 vote. The legislation brings a long-awaited solution to the current Veterans Choice Program.
Congressman Phil Roe, the chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, said during an interview on the Federal Drive that veterans would receive better care in the private sector.
In today's Federal Newscast, the House passes the VA MISSION Act, which would give the Veterans Affairs Department a long-awaited alternative to the Choice program and consolidates all seven community care programs.
In today's Federal Newscast, the Federal Risk Authorization and Management Program and the Cloud Security Alliance announce the creation of FedSTAR to offer mutual recognition between the two security programs.