President Barack Obama told veterans Tuesday “our work is not done” when it comes to the shortcomings in the VA health system.
It was one of several issues affecting veterans President Obama mentioned in his address at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has been under intense scrutiny for more than a year over waitlists and other shortcomings in the VA health system.
Last week, the VA said it is unable to count how many veterans died while waiting to sign up for health care, and said it may have to close some hospitals if Congress does not address a $2.5 billion shortfall.
President Obama said that while significant progress has been made at the troubled agency, "We've got to acknowledge our work is not done. We still have a big challenge" to keep up with the surge in veterans seeking care.
"We're not going to let up," he promised.
In his speech to the veterans, Obama also highlighted a federal rule he's finalizing on predatory lending and the military to make the case to the VFW that he's working to make things better for America's military families.
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The new rule, Obama said, would crack down on lenders who are "exploiting loopholes to trap our troops."
