House easily approves bill allowing veterans facing VA delays to get outside health care

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House has overwhelmingly approved legislation to allow patients facing long waits for care at Veterans Affairs facilities to get VA-paid treatment from local doctors.

Tuesday’s 421-0 vote was Congress’ latest response to the outcry over backlogs and falsified data at the VA.

The bill is similar to a broader measure that the Senate plans to debate soon.

The controversy led Eric Shinseki to resign as head of the VA on May 30, and the situation is a continuing embarrassment for President Barack Obama and a potential political liability for congressional Democrats seeking re-election in November.

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