veterans in crisis can find help at the va without any delay. last week i signed the veterans choice improvement act. very proud of that. so that more veterans can see the doctor of their choice and don t have to travel long distances or wait forever for va care. they were waiting in lines for seven days, eight days, nine days, two weeks. some instances were horrible. they were waiting so long they had a very curable problem and they died before they got to see the doctor. it is not going to happen any longer. already kr yethis year using th choice program veterans received 42%, more approvals, to see the doctor of their choosing. that s just the very beginning of what we have planned. so much more is coming. today we re taking another bold
system through the establishment of the new va office and accountability and whistleblower protection. it will remove and disappoint federal employees while protecting employees who speak out about wrongdoing. the president will be joined by several veterans and their spouses who have experienced the low quality of treatment that so many of these heroes have experienced. including sergeant michael beard oh and his divided wife and caregiver, sarah. the delays and improper care experienced by these veterans is unacceptable. the president s action today comes on top of the signing of the veteran s choice improvement act last week, which gives more veterans the option of seeing the doctor of their choice without traveling long distance or waiting for va care. these actions, which are only the beginning of the plans to modernize the va, the president
of the new va office of accountability and whistleblower protection. which will remove and discipline federal employees and managers who have va lated the public s trust protecting employees that speak out about wrong doing. the esident will be joined by several veterans and their exposes who have experienced or witnessed firsthand the poor quality of treatment that unfortunately too many of these heros have received from at va facilities including sergeant michael who lost his leg and arm when he stepped on an ied in afghanistan in 2010, and his devoted wife and caregiver sarah. the delays and improper care experienced by the veterans is unaccept pblp the president s action on top of signing the veterans choice improvement act last week which gives more veterans the options of seeing the doctor of their choice without traveling long distance or waiting for va care. these actions which are only the beginning of his plans to modernize the va, the president
the secretary of commerce has initiated an investigation to determine what effect our ri lines on imported aluminum has on national and economic security. the memo the president will sign similar to the memo on steel elevates this investigation and directs the secretary to prioritize its completion. this memo combined with similar action on steel is an important step towards fulfilling the president s promise to, quote, put american steel and aluminum back into the backbone of our country. the president has been speaking about revitalizing the american manufacturing industry for quite a long time. another one of the president s most significant mention has been to pledges has been to ensure the men and women who have served this nation in the military have the care, treatment and support they so greatly deserve. later this afternoon, the president will go to the department of veterans affairs where he will sign an executive order that will take serious action to fix the broken va sys
absolutely keep, like preexisting conditions and such and i would love to have our colleagues join us to do the right thing for the american people because let s face it, if you re a representative, and you re not involved in this conversation and you don t have a seat at the table that means the people you represent don t have a seat at this table. i do think a vote is coming and i m optimistic we will get something passed. that s what we were sent here to do. you mentioned preexisting conditions being one of the good things if you will. in the aca. one of the things that we re hearing that might be altered in a dramatic way, with this new bill, patients with preexisting conditions, states being able to opt out of providing care to folks who have preexisting conditions. if that s not part of the final bill will you still support it? let me address you what you said. there are there is an amendment being sent around, of course, that was an agreement