Women veterans, students would see expanded services and benefits under new law January 5 Airmen from the 50th Space Wing walk during the Colorado Springs Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 5, 2016. (Christopher DeWitt/Air Force) After a lengthy wait, President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law a sweeping veterans policy measure that includes new protections for women veterans, student veterans and individuals struggling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The measure was approved by Congress in mid-December but, due to the size of the bill, wasn’t delivered to the White House until Christmas Eve. Trump signed the measure into law Monday afternoon, just a few hours before the deadline to finalize the bill.
But service groups and unions worry that limited firsthand experience with the VA may lead to a slow start for McDonough, 51, if he ends up taking the helm of what’s considered one of the most difficult federal agencies to run due to its sheer size and scope.
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“Certainly he’s a very intelligent guy. Certainly the positions he’s held there’s no way in the world he would have been successful at any of them if he wasn’t very intelligent. But you can only see and learn so much at a time,” said Joe Chenelly, executive director of Amvets, a veterans advocacy group with more than 250,000 members.
Montana Sen. Jon Tester called President Donald Trump s veto of the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act a "political stunt" that hurts national security and veterans health care in Montana.
Montana Sen. Jon Tester called President Donald Trump s veto of the $741 billion National Defense Authorization Act a "political stunt" that hurts national security and veterans health care in Montana.