President Trump on Saturday signed an emergency spending bill that adds more than $2 billion toward a program that offers veterans private medical care paid for by the government.
Trump campaigned on the promise of working to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and on Saturday signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act from his New Jersey golf club.
“Today is another milestone in our work to transform the VA,” Trump said, adding that Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin is “a star.”
“This bill will ensure that veterans continue to have the ability to see a doctor of their choice, so important, and don’t have to wait or travel long distances for care,” he said.
{mosads}The bill addresses budget problems at the VA that called into question whether thousands of veterans would be able to receive medical care. The bill provides $2.1 billion to continue funding the Veterans Choice Program, a program that gives veterans the opportunity to seek private care.
“We’re getting candidates that are of the highest quality into the VA system now,” Trump said Saturday. “So that our veterans have more choices and more access to the absolute best possible care.”
Trump recognized Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) for their work on the bill, which passed handily through the House and Senate. He also thanked Democratic Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Democratic Montana Sen. Jon Tester, pointing out the bill’s bipartisan support.
“See, I can do it,” the president said.