House Set To Take Up $17 Billion VA Overhaul Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a new Veterans Affairs secretary in place and an August recess looming, Congress is moving quickly to approve a compromise bill to refurbish the VA and improve veterans' health care.

The House could vote on the $17 billion bill as early as today, with a Senate vote expected soon after as lawmakers rush to complete their work before leaving town this weekend for a five-week recess.

The measure is intended help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses to treat them, and make it easier to fire senior executives at the Veterans Affairs Department.

The House vote could come just one day after the Senate confirmed former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald to lead the sprawling agency.

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