U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Tim Walz announced that bipartisan legislation they backed to allow local communities to assist with the planning and construction of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities passed the House and Senate last week, and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

The CHIP In for Vets Act would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to let local communities manage the construction of VA  projects, contribute the remaining finances, and ensure projects are completed on-time and on-budget. The legislation would set up a pilot program to test this new model of construction with five initial projects.

“Our veterans deserve to receive excellent health care at state-of-the-art facilities. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for the VA to make critical improvements to the health care facilities that veterans rely on,” Klobuchar said. “With the president’s signature, we can continue to work together to make good on our promise to ensure that our veterans receive the care they have earned and deserve.”

“This groundbreaking and innovative way to fund facilities can serve as a gateway to public-private partnerships to better serve veterans,” said Rep. Tim Walz.

The CHIP In for Vets Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and in the House by Representative Brad Ashford (D-NE).