House lawmakers rejected a budget plan Monday that includes boosting the Veterans Choice Program by rerouting funds from other places in the Veterans Affairs department, reports The New York Times.
This rejection comes as lawmakers have made efforts to reach an agreement on long-term funding for the Choice program, which is slated to run out of money by mid-August.
The Choice program stems from the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2014 and was extended by President Donald Trump in April. The program allows veterans to see a private physician near home rather than deal with long wait times for VA care, according to the report. The VA foots the bill.
Under the failed House legislation, GOP lawmakers had proposed providing $2 billion to fund the Choice program for six months. They would do this by rerouting funds from other places in the VA while at the same time not providing additional monies for VA care, according to the report.
The GOP's plan spurred opposition from eight veterans groups, which issued a joint statement calling for House lawmakers to vote "no" on the legislation "and instead work with the Senate to reach a bipartisan, bicameral agreement."
Although some opponents have expressed concerns the bill would privatize the VA, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, disagreed the Republican plan would move the VA in that direction, reports NYT.
The House is expected to go on extended summer recess Aug. 1.
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