The House has approved a compromise bill to refurbish the Veterans Affairs Department and improve veterans' health care. The 420-5 vote Wednesday sends the bill to the Senate, where approval is expected by the end of the week. The $16.3 billion measure, which was unveiled Monday by the chairmen of the House and Senate veterans affairs committees, is intended to help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses to treat them and make firing senior executives at the VA easier.
