Trump takes credit for passing veterans bill that passed under Obama

President Trump at his 2020 campaign kickoff rally on Tuesday took credit for passing a veteran's health care bill that was signed into law by former President Obama.

"We passed VA Choice," he said, referring to a bill that allows veterans to seek health options outside the Veterans Affairs-run system. "You go out now, you get a doctor, you fix yourself up, the doctor sends us the bill, we pay for it. And you know what? It doesn't matter because the life and the veteran is more important, but we also happen to save a lot of money doing that."

"They've been trying to get that passed also for about 44 years," he added.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/449240-trump-touts-passing-va-bill-that-passed-under-obama

June 2018

Trump Signs $55 Billion Bill to Replace VA Choice Program

President Donald Trump signed a landmark bill Wednesday to replace the troubled Veterans Choice Program and expand private health care options amid a fight between the White House and Congress over how to pay for it.

The bill, the VA Mission Act, would also expand caregivers assistance to the families of disabled veterans and order an inventory of the Department of Veterans Affairs' more than 1,100 facilities with a long-term view to trimming excess.

"This is a very big day," said Trump, who made veterans care one of the signature issues of his run for the White House. "All during the campaign, I'd say, 'Why can't they just go out and see a doctor instead of standing on line?'

"This is truly a historic moment, a historic time for our country," he continued, before signing the bill at a White House Rose Garden ceremony. "We're allowing our veterans to get access to the best medical care available, whether it's at the VA or at a private provider."

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/06/trump-signs-55-billion-bill-replace-va-choice-program.html