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Veterans
Related: About this forumSenate passes bipartisan bill offering veterans more medical care options
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/11/senate-passes-bipartisan-bill-offering-veterans-more-medical-care-options/![](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Soldier-Having-Counselling-Session-Shutterstock.jpg)
Senate passes bipartisan bill offering veterans more medical care options
By Reuters
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 18:15 EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan measure aimed at easing healthcare delays for veterans by giving them more access to private care and allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to open more clinics and hire more medical staff.
The vote in the Democratic-led Senate followed unanimous passage on Tuesday in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives of a similar bill to address a crisis that has embarrassed the Obama administration and prompted Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to quit.
Lawmakers must now iron out differences between the House and Senate versions before voting on a final package that could be signed into law by President Barack Obama. The Senate measure matches several provisions passed by the House to address a crisis unfolding in the run-up to Novembers congressional elections.
Provisions passed by both chambers would allow veterans to visit private doctors at VA expense if they are forced to endure long waits for appointments at VA clinics or live more than 40 miles (64 km) away, and would give the VA secretary more power to fire or demote employees for poor performance.
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This is a nice first step.
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Senate passes bipartisan bill offering veterans more medical care options (Original Post)
unhappycamper
Jun 2014
OP
white cloud
(2,567 posts)1. Why should the
Obama Adm be embarrassed over the voting record from February 28Th Repubs Blocking expansion of VA benefits.
The republicans should embarrassedsed over their voting record
unhappycamper
(60,364 posts)2. I'm not dissing anyone with my comment.
I merely stated "This is a good first step."