“The Department of Veterans Affairs would get $19.6 billion to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic under a sweeping $2 trillion measure the Senate passed Wednesday night.”
“The money would be used to buy more testing kits, medical equipment and personal protective equipment for medical staff, boost the department’s telehealth capabilities and send veterans outside the VA for emergency care, among other measures.”
“The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve the bill. The House is expected to take it up Friday and send it to President Donald Trump for his signature.”
“Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., opposed the original version of the massive funding measure as written by Republicans. It contained no money for the VA, said Tester, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The $19.6 billion was added during negotiations between both parties.”
“‘Although this stimulus package is far from perfect, it is a vast improvement to the original bill, which had zero dollars to support VA,’ Tester said in a statement. ‘The bill now provides essential funding to increase VA’s response efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus…’”
“The package also includes a measure to give $100 billion to hospitals treating coronavirus patients.”
“For the VA, it includes $14.4 billion for medical and protective equipment. The measure requires the VA to provide protective gear to all home health care workers who serve veterans, provide financial assistance to programs that assist homeless veterans and lift pay caps for any VA staff working overtime during the pandemic. It also gives $150 million to state veterans homes to help the facilities respond to the pandemic…” Read the full article here.
Source: Senate-approved stimulus bill includes nearly $20 billion for VA – By Nikki Wentling, March 26, 2020. Stars and Stripes.
