President Barack Obama was in Charlotte today to introduce the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and to announce that he will sign 19 new executive actions to help veterans. He spoke to a packed hall of veterans with the American Legion at the Charlotte Convention Center during their national conference.
President Obama said his new law will help fix the VA system.
"The new legislation that I signed into law, Bob and the VA now have the authority to more quickly remove senior executives who don't meet our high standards," Obama said. "If you engage in unethical practices or cover up a serious problem. You should be and will be fired."
Obama said the new veteran's health law will focus on improving health care. He says money will be allocated to increasing the number of doctors and nurses at the VA to eliminate the backlog that has caused some veterans to wait months to get an appointment.
President Obama says he also wants to reduce homelessness among veterans by partnering with banks to make it easier for active-duty service members to own homes. The executive actions will also expand suicide prevention training and treatment for mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder.
