Legislation Preserving the Veterans Choice Program Signed Into Law

Press Release

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today on President Trump signing into law the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017. Senator McCain is an original cosponsor of the legislation:

"I am gratified our legislation has been signed into law providing the Veterans Choice Program with the funding it needs to continue offering timely access to quality health care in the community.

"Since the creation of the Veterans Choice Program, veterans have scheduled more that 8.7 million appointments for care in the community using the Choice Card. That is 2.6 million more appointments than last year, or a 46 percent increase. These represent millions of appointments that would have otherwise been stuck for weeks or months in the VA's scheduling system.

"The VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 provides the Veterans Choice Program the funding needed to operate for the rest of the year and into the next fiscal year while Congress continues working with Secretary Shulkin to improve and refine this vital program. Our veterans deserve to have access to the best quality care when and where they need it, and I won't stop fighting to ensure our veterans receive the flexible care they have earned and deserve."

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