Tester named to conference committee working on VA bills

Montana’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester on Wednesday was appointed to the conference committee tasked with reconciling House and Senate bills that improve veterans’ access to care at VA hospitals.

The House of Representatives voted to convene the conference committee to hash out differences between the two VA bills. The vote signals that lawmakers from both houses are close to passing a bill to fix the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system.

Thousands of veterans seeking health care have experienced long waits at VA facilities – some have died while waiting.

“This is a great opportunity to put veterans first,” Tester said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “Our final bill must help more veterans get the care they earned and build a foundation for future compromises that help us live up to our commitments to veterans. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a responsible solution.”

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