After a first attempt failed last week, the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday unanimously passed a $2.1 billion bipartisan bill to extend the Veterans Choice Program. Representative Paul Cook of Yucca Valley voted in favor of the measure, which allows veterans who live 40 miles or more from a VA clinic, or whose VA appointments are 30 days or more in the future, to seek private or community health care. The Veteran’s Choice Program was enacted in 2014, but was originally scheduled to expire in August. This legislation provides additional funding to extend the program for six more months. The bill now goes to the Senate where it is expected to pass.
