A planned deployment of the system to sites in Idaho this weekend has been delayed in response to lingering problems. Senators said the AIR Commission process has been flawed and unnecessary, despite nearly five years of effort. Officials are optimistic the sweeping veterans bill will be finalized by Congress sometime next month. The EC-130H Compass Call worked behind the scenes for two decades in Afghanistan, from supporting the arrival of special forces, to the bin Laden raid and the Kabul evacuation. A move to fast-track confirmation of the president's nominee was blocked by a Republican senator on Wednesday. The sweeping bill could be one of the most expensive and most impactful veterans policy measures approved by Congress in years. Legislation would promise veterans get the same increase as Social Security recipients later this year. Currently the VA inspector general cannot force former employees to detail problems or crimes they saw during their tenure at the department. The measure could be passed out of the chamber in the next few weeks and become law later this summer. The sweeping bill has been stalled in the Senate over concerns related to cost and potential workload burdens on Veterans Affairs workers. Load More
