Leaders of the Veterans Affairs committees in the U.S. Congress said Monday they had struck a rare compromise deal on legislation that provides about $17 billion in funding to ease long waiting times for VA medical centers.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, and Rep. Jeff Miller, a Republican, said the figure marks about the halfway point between the competing proposals they announced last week.
The compromise measure aims to clear months-long waiting lists at VA hospitals and clinics across the country. The agency has been rocked by scandal over coverups of these waiting times, prompting the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in late May.