Obama signs VA healthcare funding bill

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law Thursday legislation that speeds up money for veterans' healthcare, addressing a decades-long problem, he said.

Enacting the Veterans' Healthcare Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizes medical care funding a year in advance, meaning "timely, sufficient and predictable funding from year to year," Obama said during the signing ceremony.

The VA budget has been late nearly every year for nearly 20 years, plaguing funding for veterans' healthcare, Obama said.

Such delays are "frustrating, "inexcusable" and "unacceptable," Obama said.

The funding stability provided in the act means veterans will have "better access to doctors and nurses and the medical care that they need."

Calling the measure "common sense reform," Obama said it promotes accountability at the VA and oversight by Congress.

"It is fiscally responsible by not adding a dime to the deficit," Obama said "And it ensures that veterans' health care will no longer be held hostage to the annual budget battles in Washington."