Jacqueline Klimas

Obama signs VA bill to open outside care to veterans

President Obama opened up private care to veterans waiting too long for an appointment at VA facilities, signing the VA reform bill Thursday morning in a ceremony at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Published August 7, 2014

Looming private health insurance deadline a challenge for troubled VA

President Obama will sign a bill this week to begin reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, kicking off a scramble as the troubled department tries to meet the 90-day deadline Congress set for getting a private health care option up and running. Published August 4, 2014

Sen. Tom Coburn vows to slow down budget-busting bills ahead of recess

As Congress rushes to tie up loose ends before it leaves D.C. for a monthlong vacation, Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, vowed Thursday to slow the passage of any bill that adds to the deficit. Published July 31, 2014

Senate bill quadruples fines for colleges that stay silent on sexual assault

Senators introduced a bill Wednesday that quadruples fines for colleges and universities that fail to accurately report sexual assaults to the government, hiking them from $35,000 to $150,000. Published July 30, 2014

House passes VA reform compromise

House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to overhaul the VA health care system, hoping a $16 billion infusion of cash can help gain a handle on the wait times and poor care issues for veterans that have plagued the department. Published July 30, 2014

Rep. Jeff Miller: ‘Ain’t no leash for VA’

Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida Republican, said Wednesday that he'll spend his August recess checking up on VA hospitals around the country. Published July 30, 2014

Newly confirmed VA chief greeted with lawsuit over military sex assault treatment

As if rebuilding a scandal-plagued department weren't enough, former Fortune 500 executive and newly-confirmed Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald will have another issue on his plate: a lawsuit on the VA's treatment of military sexual assault victims. Published July 29, 2014

Robert McDonald confirmed as VA secretary

The Senate unanimously confirmed Robert McDonald to be the next Veterans Affairs secretary on Tuesday afternoon. Published July 29, 2014

Lawmakers to vote on $17 billion VA compromise bill

House and Senate negotiators announced a $17 billion deal Monday to begin fixing the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs health care system Published July 28, 2014

Bernard Sanders, Jeff Miller to announce VA reform deal

The House and Senate's top negotiators reached a tentative deal on legislation to fix the Veterans Affairs Department health care system and are expected to announce the details Monday afternoon. Published July 27, 2014

Access to VA mental health services more difficult than at non-VA providers

Veterans are twice as likely to have difficulty scheduling a mental health appointment at the VA versus those seeking care at a non-VA provider, a survey of recent veterans found. Published July 27, 2014

Libya now nation at risk with weak U.S. influence; embassy closes as chaos grows

With violence spreading across Libya and the U.S. Embassy closing in Tripoli, Republican lawmakers over the weekend blasted the Obama administration for failing to stop yet another troubled Middle Eastern nation from descending into complete chaos, and even some Democrats conceded that America's influence in the world has waned considerably. Published July 27, 2014

Madeleine Albright: ‘The world’s a mess’

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's behavior and the Arab Spring in the Middle East have been "game changers," complicating U.S. foreign policy. Published July 27, 2014

Cornyn: Congress must act on border crisis before break

Sen. John Cornyn said Sunday that leaving for a five-week vacation without addressing the humanitarian crisis at the border would be a mistake. Published July 27, 2014

Pelosi: Obama’s leadership on Israel is ‘strong’

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that the president has been "in the lead" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Published July 27, 2014

Administration official: Israel can do more to avoid civilian deaths

The administration's deputy national security adviser said Sunday that Israel could do more to ensure Palestinian civilians aren't killed in the current crisis. Published July 27, 2014

Netanyahu: We must defend our own people

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he doesn't want any civilians to be killed in the conflict with the Palestinians, but that Israel has to defend its own people. Published July 27, 2014

VA chief says more funding is only way to cure care crisis

Capitol Hill negotiations on a Veterans Affairs reform bill teetered on the verge of collapse Thursday, as acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson warned that the troubles at the scandal-plagued agency will only get worse without more federal funding. Published July 24, 2014

GOP offer to fix VA gives $10 billion in emergency funds

Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida Republican, introduced Thursday a GOP plan to fix the Department of Veterans Affairs, but said he's not sure where negotiations stand now that both sides have proposals on the table. Published July 24, 2014

Veterans Affairs reform bill collapses

Negotiations on the VA reform bill imploded Thursday morning as House negotiators planned to introduce their own bill rather than work with senators in a conference committee. Published July 24, 2014