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The House overwhelmingly approved a $3.9 billion emergency spending package to address a budget shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs that threatens medical care for thousands of veterans. The bill provides $2.1 billion to continue funding the Veterans Choice program, which allows veterans to receive private medical care at government expense. Another $1.8 billion would go to core VA health programs, including 28 leases for new VA medical facilities. (Yen and Daly, 7/28)

House members on Friday voted 414-0 to temporarily extend funding for the Veterans Choice program, which allows veterans to more easily get health-care services in the private sector if they aren’t readily available at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. However, the bill is considered a stopgap measure, as the funding shortfall likely will arise again just after the new year. (Kesling, 7/28)

President Donald Trump bragged about a mission accomplished in veterans' health care that has not been achieved. He threatened to end health insurers' "bailouts" that actually help consumers. And he cited "tremendous" costs to taxpayers from providing health services to transgender troops without providing evidence of that expense. (7/31)