U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud says he's pleased that House members reached across the aisle to negotiate and pass a bipartisan Veterans Administration conference report on Wednesday.
"We have heard from veterans, their families, VA employees, veterans service organizations about what is and what isn't working within the Department of Veterans Affairs," Michaud says.
Michaud, ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, worked with Florida Republican Rep. Jeff Miller and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to reach a deal to address what they say are some of the most immediate problems within the VA.
Michaud says one of the most important provisions in the report is an extension of a project called Access Received Closer to Home, or ARCH.
"Many veterans in my district would be forced to make a nearly 600-mile round-trip drive to the nearest VA facility if it weren't for ARCH," Michaud says.
ARCH allows veterans in places like Aroostook County to receive their VA service at a local hospital instead of driving to Augusta for care. But Michaud says the conference report is just the first step in reforming and improving the VA.
