Washington, D.C. ­– U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today regarding the President signing into law H.R. 3220, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014.

“I am gratified that the President today signed into law legislation to begin addressing the most pressing issues raised by the ongoing scandal in veterans’ health care. I was proud to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to secure this compromise to provide veterans far more choice in their health care and enable the VA to more easily fire poor-performing employees.

“This bill includes some of the most significant reforms to the VA in decades.

“For the first time, veterans will receive a Choice Card. If a veteran can’t get an appointment in a reasonable time frame or lives far from a VA medical facility, they can select a local healthcare provider of their choice to provide the timely, quality care they deserve. This reform quickly and effectively addresses the most common issue I hear from veterans – the seemingly never-ending wait-times for appointments at VA facilities. I first proposed this kind of program when I ran for president in 2008, and I am gratified that today we are finally providing our veterans with the flexibility and choice in health care that they have earned.

“This legislation also brings badly needed accountability to VA operations, to help change the corrupt culture at the VA that numerous audits and investigations have clearly identified. It includes provisions empowering VA administrators to immediately fire poor-performing employees with no pay while they appeal their cases. Among other provisions, this bill also extends the Assisted Living Pilot Program for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury for three more years. This important program provides vital 24-hour care to veterans with traumatic brain injuries in Arizona and around the country.”

“This bill is the beginning – not an end – to our efforts to address this crisis. And while there is much more to be done, this legislation is an important first step toward providing our nation’s veterans with quality health care they earned and deserve.”