WASHINGTON \u2014 Congress this week finalized legislation to extend a host of Veterans Affairs programs through the end of the year, avoiding disruptions in the services while lawmakers sort out budget issues over the next two months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The measure was approved by the House on Monday and passed by unanimous consent in the Senate on Wednesday night. It now heads to the White House, where President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure into law in coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move is largely routine. Even though lawmakers earlier this month approved a federal budget extension until mid-December, including VA operations, the additional legislation authorizes to continuation of initiatives already paid for in that continuing resolution. Several extend well beyond the term of the annual budget measures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They includes an extension of health care and homeless programs, nursing home care authorities, support services for caregivers, transportation reimbursements, child care assistance, adaptive sports programs and home loan services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the bill extends an assisted living pilot program for veterans with traumatic brain injury for five more months, to allow extra time to move participating veterans into other existing programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of those issues could have been covered in VA\u2019s fiscal 2018 budget, if lawmakers could have reached an agreement on federal spending before Saturday, the end of the fiscal year. But Republicans and Democrats still appear far apart on a budget deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The VA authorizations are the sixth major piece of a veterans-related bill passed by Congress this year, significant given the scant other legislative common ground on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They include a pair of measures related to extending the VA Choice program, an overhaul of VA education benefits, reforms to the VA benefits appeals process, and new accountability rules regarding department staffers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawmakers are hopeful they\u2019ll add at least one more to that list before the end of the year. On Tuesday, VA Secretary David Shulkin said he expects legislation reforming the Choice program to be introduced in coming days. Congress needs to act on that measure before the end of 2017, when funding for the program is expected to expire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n