{"id":39000,"date":"2018-03-22T01:00:56","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T01:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/22\/lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:19:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:19:00","slug":"lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2018\/03\/22\/lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers nearly passed three major VA reform bills this week. Now that plan is dead."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 House appropriators released their omnibus budget bill on Wednesday without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/03\/19\/plan-could-add-multiple-sweeping-veterans-reform-measures-to-must-pass-omnibus-budget-bill\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">a proposed package of veterans reforms included<\/a>, a missed opportunity that has lawmakers and veterans groups worried whether the ideas will ever move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The $1.3 trillion spending package \u2014 which includes the full fiscal 2018 funding for the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies \u2014 must be passed by the end of the week to avoid another partial government shutdown. Officials released the overall spending parameters for the budget in last month, but worked out funding details for the massive measure in recent days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The must-pass nature of the legislation made it a target for a host of special interest items, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2017\/11\/29\/senate-committee-advances-its-plan-for-va-health-care-overhaul\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">proposed VA reforms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The package circulated among lawmakers and outside advocates called for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2017\/11\/29\/senate-committee-advances-its-plan-for-va-health-care-overhaul\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">an overhaul of VA community care programs<\/a> \u2014 the White House\u2019s top legislative priority for the department this year \u2014 along with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2018\/02\/06\/va-sees-big-savings-in-expanding-caregiver-stipends-but-lawmakers-still-worry-about-costs\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">expansion of veteran caregiver benefits<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2017\/10\/12\/lawmakers-take-first-steps-towards-a-brac-for-va-facilities\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">review of the VA system\u2019s national footprint<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/veterans\/2018\/03\/19\/plan-could-add-multiple-sweeping-veterans-reform-measures-to-must-pass-omnibus-budget-bill\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Capitol3.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Plan could add multiple sweeping veterans reform measures to must-pass omnibus budget bill<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Advocates say they&#039;re close to a deal to add three major pieces of VA legislation to the budget bill under consideration this week.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All three issues have been the center of contentious fights on Capitol Hill, and the compromise package was hailed by veterans groups in a letter to congressional leaders as a step that would \u201cmeasurably improve the lives of millions of veterans today and in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee agreed to the plan, as did House Republican leaders. But House Democrats raised a host of objections to the idea in recent days, sidelining the possible reforms for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The community care changes are part of the department\u2019s efforts to phase out the controversial VA Choice program, which allows veterans who meet certain criteria to receive care from private sector doctors at taxpayer expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier in the day, VA Secretary David Shulkin testified that the Choice program is set to run out of money in early June, potentially disrupting medical plans for tens of thousands of veterans nationwide. He has pushed Congress for a solution that would ease eligibility restrictions and simplify all VA outside care programs into a single funding stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting that done as a stand alone will be more difficult, especially given the contentious behind-the-scenes negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the budget bill release, House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., said he was disappointed by the result, but added \u201cthat doesn\u2019t change the fact that veterans and their caregivers need these reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI thank Chairman Isakson, Ranking Member Tester, the administration and Veterans Service Organizations for negotiating in good faith,\u201d he said. \u201cOur work continues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He noticeably did not reference House Democrats, who Republican blamed for blocking a deal over political issues. Party officials have hinted they may try to block the budget bill over a host of concerns, including immigration issues missing from the measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"720\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18043492143414.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18043492143414.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18043492143414.jpg.jpg?resize=300,180 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18043492143414.jpg.jpg?resize=768,461 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_18043492143414.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,614 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The President&#8217;s FY19 Budget is on display after arriving on Capitol Hill on Feb. 12, 2018. (Susan Walsh\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Griffin Anderson, spokesman for the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee\u2019s Democrats, said the decision to oppose the VA reforms deal came down to policy concerns, not politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He called the proposal too rushed and incomplete for the minority party to support. He said the community care overhaul plan still relied on arbitrary eligibility rules, the asset review plan would undermine VA infrastructure, and neither of those reforms had the promise of new appropriations with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSimilarly, the caregiver proposal, which fully expands access to all generations of veterans and is a top priority for us, wouldn\u2019t see a single dollar,\u201d he said. \u201cYes, the program would be authorized, but there would not be any money to fund this expansion and no clear way to provide that funding going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republican officials blasted those criticisms as ridiculous. They noted that committee ranking member Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., has previously offered identical legislative proposals on caregivers expansion and community care issues in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll these proposals have been considered by either the House or Senate committees through regular order,\u201d said Tiffany Haverly, spokeswoman for Roe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She dismissed the funding concerns and said Democrats have been inconsistent with their concerns over the asset review and outside care changes. She also noted that their Senate committee counterparts had signed on to the plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Wednesday, before the official omnibus release, Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee ranking member Jon Tester, D-Mont., lamented the inability to reach a compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe negotiations with the omnibus, everybody was on the same sheet, including the White House,\u201d he said. \u201cHopefully we can get his passed, because it\u2019s the final piece of a puzzle to hold VA accountable for both VA care and choice care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know about the House. The bill we passed (in the Senate committee) is a good bill. And it has been held up by a few people, and we need to get over it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans groups were similarly upset that a compromise could not be reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe last few days have been disappointing working on this,\u201d said Joe Chennelly, executive director at AMVETS. \u201cThis is a key opportunity to finally meet a number of key legislative needs for veterans of all eras \u2026 Now that these efforts and this opportunity seem to have been wasted, we are searching for a path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carlos Fuentes, national legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said his group is also worried failed reforms bid now makes future progress on the issues more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re starting to hear that facilities are starting to run out of choice funds,\u201d he said. \u201cVeterans are starting to get impacted. We need to get something done and stop punting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said he was also disappointed to miss out on including the reforms in the omnibus, but said he thinks the work done will have a positive result in coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI would have liked to get it in there, but the effort we\u2019ve gone through has educated everyone on what a great job we\u2019ve done to address three major concerns in the VA,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we\u2019ll get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He intends to bring up the issues again in early April, after Congress\u2019 upcoming spring break.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plans to include three big veterans priorities in the upcoming must-pass omnibus budget bill fell apart during House negotiations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":59501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,12,26,62,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3222],"class_list":["post-39000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"37XIQIRYGBH23E5ETPLTC5QF5A","arc_canonical_url":"\/veterans\/2018\/03\/22\/lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Lawmakers nearly passed three major VA reform bills this week. 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Now that plan is dead.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Plans to include three big veterans priorities in the upcoming must-pass omnibus budget bill fell apart during House negotiations.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2018\/03\/22\/lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Navy Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-03-22T01:00:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T03:19:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Leo Shane III\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Leo Shane III\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/veterans\\\/2018\\\/03\\\/22\\\/lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/veterans\\\/2018\\\/03\\\/22\\\/lawmakers-nearly-passed-three-major-va-reform-bills-this-week-now-that-plan-is-dead\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Lawmakers nearly passed three major VA reform bills this week. 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