Veterans-For-Change.org

Military Update: The nation’s largest Veteran groups joined key senators Wednesday to endorse conditionally a plan from VA Secretary (Dr.) David J. Shulkin to replace the unpopular 2014 VA Choice program, which critics contend often has failed to provide timely access to private sector care when VA healthcare isn’t readily available.

A vote count was not recorded.

"We're going to pass that, it will go right to the president and get his signature", McCarthy told reporters. Jon Tester, and Georgia Sen. "I hope it's worth the wait". The act will now be presented in the House of Representatives for its approval before it can make it to the president's desk.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

The U.S. Senate did something today that it hasn't done much of lately. It passed a bipartisan bill. It's the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. As the name suggests, the legislation aims to better protect staffers who bring wrongdoing to light, and it makes firing bad employees easier and faster. As NPR's Geoff Bennett reports, the bill is the latest effort by lawmakers to transform the culture of the VA.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Senator Chuck Grassley isn't satisfied with the explanation he received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after he says a whistle-blower gave him information showing thousands of Iowa's Veterans are waiting months before getting care.

Athletic fields for a private prep school and a dog park, but not Veterans

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) to for information regarding an agreement to turn a VA campus in Los Angeles into permanent housing for homeless Veterans. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (No. 1:17-cv-00994)).

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has stopped updating a performance database that charts error rates at local offices — a system Vets advocates say was a useful tool to hold the agency accountable, including at the Boston office.

At a meeting in March, a lead analyst in the VA’s compensation service was critical of the media, scientists and the VA’s own administrative tribunal for taking positions that differ from his. The VA said his comments “did not fully or accurately reflect VA’s position” but also said his quotes were being taken out of context.

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin addressed members of the press Wednesday in a rare White House briefing for the scandal-plagued agency. The best way to fix the poor conditions of the VA clinics and lack of accountability for awful employees, is to be as transparent as possible, the secretary noted.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin warned Wednesday that the VA is "still in critical condition" despite efforts that predate his tenure to reduce wait times for medical appointments and expand opportunities to seek care in the private sector.

An apartment complex built entirely of recycled shipping containers in California is providing shelter for homeless veterans.