the va is able to do this right now, so thank you very much. so, mr. president this is how we are expanding access and bringing the best technology available in the country and really thanks to your help in cutting through the regulation the office of american innovation, we are able to expand access for medically today-- dramatically today and roll this out and with our accountability bill, replacing octroi medical records, the progress we have made in six months we have been able to do tremendous things, but it's just the beginning for what we will do for veterans, so thank you very much. [applause]. >> i just want to thank him and i hope your skin will be improved. [laughter] >> you look pretty good to me. what do i know. >> why don't you say something if you want to say hello to the presidents. >> good morning, mr. president. how are you? >> very good. you look very healthy to me. please make sure his skin is perfect. [laughter] >> thank you very much. great technology. great to meet you. [applause]. >> we are going to west virginia tonight and we w

so, you are following in the foot depths of lots of great innovators in va. one of the things i don't think people realize, so it's really incumbent upon you to let your colleagues around the country know is that with all the responsibilities now that come with so many people who work in jobs to increase productivity and to have their health care and everything else, the va is actually one of the best places to be able to have the time and ability to innovate. i think we have to promote and let people understand that this is really a great place of all the things you're able to do in some of your colleagues work in the air doesn't have the ability to use ms time and energy on innovation like we have the ability to at the va. with that is the responsibility to take what you are doing and make sure it gets spread throughout the country and people know about it and that's really what today is about. once again, thank you for being here. thank you for continuing the work you are doing and this is really important for us to do. some of you may know particularly tho

another issue is the va employees are not ordering the exams when necessary. i appreciate the recent va -- i appreciately recently that the va retained all of its employees on gwi claims and i am looking forward to hearing whether the retain -- retaining these employees made a difference. i'm also frustrated because gao pointed out that the va's decision letters are not clear. this issue keeps coming up. as you know my appeals reform bill hr 2288 would require va to make its decision letters more clear and useful for the veterans but it shouldn't take legislation to force the va to act. i would like to see the va change its decision letters now so that the veterans understand why the v.a. made the decisions it did. gao also found other reasons for keeping claims low such as the lack of a single case definition for gwi. i am looking forward to an honest discussion about the va's need to do so and how to ensure they do. none of us want to come back next year to find the same problems. after this hearing i intend to work with my colleagues to keep on v.a. to make

come with so many people who work in jobs with productivity with health care and everything else the va is one of the best places to have the time and ability to innovate so i the ink we have to understand and promote this is a great place to doing those things that we can do that those that worked in the private sector those unspent time and energy on innovation so to take you were doing that people know about it and that is what today's about. thanks for being here and the work you're doing and this is important for us to do. of many were here last year? so people may not know my favorite tv show is shark tank. [laughter] and i love the energy and the spirit of the entreprenuers. and those who have seen a shark tank you know that those that don't get one of the sharks to invest the most common reason is because the entrepreneurs have developed a company or idea or product there really doesn't solve a problem. you can innovate and not get traction if it is not solving a problem. one of the things i would like to see us do with the innovation network is to make sure you are solving a pr

i really given us two sides of the same coin. va care and community care are linked and have been linked for decades and will talk about them in the sector. it just seems to happen right now there's a lot spotlight on community care but we've been in the business of partnership at va for decades upon decades. what do i mean by a high-performing network? i want to talk about the characteristics of that, that we are striving towards and then talk more about how do we get there throughout the rest of our time together. first, it means strengthening and growing our foundational services. you might have heard this term by the secretary or others. every single healthcare system across the country dhat excel in every single area. i think it's important for us to invest in the services that are most important to veterans, that a most unique to the va and make sure that their state-of-the-art and world-class. that's what foundational seundatices means is making sure that they care that cannot be provided of our walls is delivered with excell

so you're following in the footsteps of lots of great innovators in the va. i don't think a lot of people realize, it's incumbent upon you to let your colleagues around the country know that with all the responsibility that come with so many people that work in jobs to increase productivity and to have their health care and everything else, that the va is actually probably one of the best places to be able to have the time and ability to innovate. and so, i think that we have to promote and let people understand that this is really a great place to be doing the types of things that all of you are able to do and so many of your colleagues and other physicians who work in the private sector just don't sometimes have the ability to spend the time and energy on innovation like we have the ability in the v acha. so with that as a responsibility to take what you're doing and make sure it's spread throughout the country and people know about it, that's what today is really about. once again, just thank you for being here. thank you for continuing the work you're doin

we have a lot of red tape to cut through in the va and the dod. by the time we get through it to your senate offices and home states be the scissors. every single one of us, for those years, they are veterans related. and the benefits you are entitled to and not getting the right answer, let your next phone call be to the senator of your choice and state, make it our job, i want to thank you for your service, and they were at senator dole's kickoff for hidden heroes, you are continuing to serve, not only are you serving in your household the doing a great service for everybody else who needs your voice but i want to talk more, you are talking to somebody in the unique position of being on this committee, the veterans affairs committee and the chair of the personal subcommittee. wanda talked about transition. we talked about the need to do a better job identifying potential caregivers at transition, i know you have suggested the blueprint of additional research. give me an idea of a couple things. one is how do we glue together that entire chain? h

and once he became president he has stuck on making the va better. it's great for me and great for the administration that we have a president who gives us clear support to fix the va. we have been able to get if five bills through congress with bipartisan support. jesse: secretary shulkin, thank you very much. first it was confederate statues. not you left wants to take down jefferson and washington. powerful watters words you won't see these folks at the post office. they have businesses to run. they have passions to pursue. how do they avoid trips to the post office? stamps.com mail letters, ship packages, all the services of the post office right on your computer. get a 4 week trial, plus $100 in extras including postage and a digital scale. go to stamps.com/tv and never go to the post office again. the violence in charlottesville last week. i'm kelly wright. jesse: dismantling america's history. president trump said this on the heels of the charlottesville attack which began over the removal of a robert e. lee statue. >> this week it's robert e.

in the past six months, i have signed historic va accountability legislation. i have signed legislation to extend and improve the veterans choice program. we're starting to really get that to a point where choice is just becoming something that they are extremely happy about, and they've wanted it for many, many years. we're working to enable seamless care between the departments of defense and veteran affairs. we have launched a groundbreaking new website that allows veterans to compare wait times and quality of care at va facilities and other hospitals. so we're actually able to compete our facilities with other hospitals and other va facilities. so we'll really strike a little competitive advantage and i think get people moving even better. and we have dramatically increased the number of approvals for veterans to see the doctors. so they are going to have many more doctors of their choice. these accomplishments are only the beginning. we will not rest until all of america's great veterans can receive the care they so richly deserve. tremendous progress has b

right now 470,000 people are waiting determination by the va. now the message he writes here today according to the white house is one of unit. he's expected to call on americans to heal the wounds that divide us. that's a quote. that is if he sticks to the script. he went off script last night in phoenix after ex saw. he went after the media for about half an hours time. criticizing the media's coverage on how he responded to the violence in charlottesville. take a listen. president: they don't report the facts. just like they don't want to report that i spoke out forcefully against hatred, bigotry and violence, and strongly condemned the neo nazis, white supremacists and k2 global partners k. >kkk. >> harris, he was also critical of the two republican senators in arizona. john mccain specifically in his lack of support of repealing obamacare. what he also discussed is a possible pardon for sheriff joe who was convicted of violating a court order. there has been swept reaction from democrats this morning. one other thing he mentioned with regard

i told the va, i've alreadyn' called the clinic in hayes. they don't do colonoscopies.a ic and the va says i'm sorry but there's a clinic within 40 miles of where you live. that it's that kind of stuff that makes no sense as we treat those who served our nation. so the request is what is to work to help you or someone you know or one of the health care providers, and it this programth is successful, it also up all the rest of us have access to health care because if we spend our dollars here, we're supporting the hospital, health care delivery system that peopl who are not veterans rely on.ret money spent at hospitals here, our doctors share helps uslthcae provide health care opportunities foror everyone. let me take this conversation whatever direction you would like for it to go. >> i think because we're coming up on developing a new farm bill, are we going to be able to address any type of supply management? you've traveled the state obviously and use part of the in mn on the ground ever. back in my home county we got the remainder of 201

and once he became president he has stuck on making the va better. great for me and great for the administration that we have a president who gives us clear support to fix the va. we have been able to get if five bills through congress with bipartisan support. jesse: secretary shulkin, thank you very much. first it was confederate statues. not you left wants to take down jefferson and washington. powerful watters words up next. probiotics? enough! (avo) if you've had enough, tell your doctor what you've tried and how long you've been at it. linzess works differently from laxatives. linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation. it can help relieve your belly pain, and lets you have more frequent and complete bowel movements that are easier to pass. do not give linzess to children less than six, and it should not be given to children six to less than eighteen. it may harm them. don't take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain, especially with bloody or black st

with the va, i'm a veteran and i won't use it. [inaudible] after seven years, why can't i get on the internet and go to a secured website and by health insurance from anybody in the country that's willing to provide it? >> if i can remember, my mental health is sufficient but i'll try to save the three things, first of all, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me that they can't be grown and i've kept those in washington d.c. from time to time but mostly that's a state issue. secondly, in regard to the va, i'm sorry you had that experience. i thank you for your service. : >> community health mental services, why can't the va contract with them to provide services in barton county kansas for veterans who here who need mental health? it seems to me again trying to bring more providers into the equation, not less is a good thing. finally your point about buying across state lines. i'm supportive of that. the broader point i would make is i have thought from the very beginning when the affordable care act was passed and when we are involv

and once he became president he has stuck on making the va better. 's great for me and great for the administration that we have a president who gives us clear support to fix the va. we have been able to get if five bills through congress with bipartisan support. jesse: secretary shulkin, thank you very much. first it was confederate statues. not you left wants to take down jefferson and washington. powerful watters words this is a fox news alert. you are looking at a photo of the uss john mccain. it is a missile destroyer. it was involved in a collision a short time ago. ten sailors are missing, five others injured as a result of the mishap. in a very warship collided with a merchant vessel east of singapore. you are looking at the area where it likely took place. the ship it was collided with was a merchant vessel that is in oil and chemical tanker sailing under the liberian flag. earlier this month the john s mccain was involved in freedom operations in the south china sea, failing within 6 miles of an artificial island built by china. the vessel s

and once he became president he has stuck on making the va better. 's great for me and great for the administration that we have a president who gives us clear support to fix the va. we have been able to get if five bills through congress with bipartisan support. jesse: secretary shulkin, thank you very much. first it was confederate statues. not you left wants to take down jefferson and washington. powerful watters words constipated? trust #1 doctor recommended dulcolax. use dulcolax tablets for gentle dependable relief. suppositories for relief in minutes. and dulcoease for comfortable relief of hard stools. dulcolax. designed for dependable relief. ito become dangerous.d for an everyday item new tide pods child guard pack. helps keep your laundry pacs safe and your child safer. align, press and unzip. ♪ i'm living that yacht life, life, life ♪ ♪ top speed fifty knots life on the caribbean seas ♪ ♪ it's a champagne and models potpourri ♪ ♪ on my yacht made of cuban mahogany, ♪ ♪ gany, gany, gany, gany ♪ watch this don't get mad (bell mnemonic) get e

i took him to the va and i pushed the issue. sam wasn't the same person. the more i talked about the issues he was having the more the doctors realized i was right. i had to write to the senator to get the army doctors to reevaluate him to be given the benefits of the right benefits, the ones that he returns. it should not have been that difficult. you can't put a dollar sign on it. as you consider how to improve the lives of caregivers, know that the military and veteran caregiver services improvement act makes important strides in improving coordination between the department of defense mba when servicemembers servicemembers are transitioning into civilian life and extending the stipend to so many caregivers and veterans in need. those are certainly policies that would've helped sam and i as we figure out our new life. i hope you will support this legislation and help ensure to be signed into law. thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share and i look forward to your questions. >> thank you so much for your testimony. i want to thank you all for b

the va said, sir, i'm sorry, but there's a clinic within 40 miles of where you live. it's that kind of stuff that makes no sense as we treat those who served our nation. the request is, put us to work to help you or someone you know or one of the health care providers. and if this program is successful, it will also help all the rest of us have access to healthcare because if we are spending our dollars here, we are supporting the healthcare delivery system that people who are not veterans rely on. at our doctors and hospitals here helps us provide healthcare opportunities for everyone. let me take this conversation any direction you would like for it to go. >> i would like to talk about the farm bill just a bit. we are coming up on developing a new farm bill. in my home county last week, we grain on the ground. they have elevators that can handle it. now they are going to take the week crop and put it out of the ground and buy more, do more. the way i see it the last few , years have been devastating we've got to start thinking about this overproduction. farm programs

the va said, sir, i'm sorry, but there's a clinic within 40 miles of where you live. it's that kind of stuff that makes no sense as we treat those who served their nation. the request is, put us to work to help you or someone you know or one of the health care providers. if this program is successful, it will also help all the rest of us have access to healthcare because if we are spending our dollars here, we are supporting the healthcare delivery system that people who aren't better -- who are not veterans rely on. money that is spent here helps us provide healthcare opportunities for everyone. let me take this conversation any direction you would like for it to go. [inaudible] developing a new farm bill. in my home county last week, we got the remainder of grain elevators that can handle it. [inaudible] the last few years have been devastating for farmers. i've lost all the working capital that i built over my lifetime. we've got to start thinking about this overproduction. farm programs are based on conservation. so we don't have an adequate safety net. so they nee

the authority to make sure we have the right people working in the va. ority of the people who work in the system are top notch professionals. in the cases where there are individuals who lost their way and shouldn't be working in the va i have to make sure we can move them out. >> shannon: how daunting has this been taking this on? >> this is really a system that has had decades of neglect and fallen behind. what we're doing now is getting a lot of things done to get this system back on path to modernize the system, the make it a system we all want for our veterans. we are getting this done. this is our fifth major piece of legislation we signed yesterday getting done in bipartisan support. i full good about where we're headed >> shannon: there has been a lot of progress on this front. the president tweeting out quite a bit this morning saying i requested that mitch m and paul r tie the debt ceiling legislation into the popular va bill which just passed. they didn't do it. now we have a big deal with dems holding them up on debt ceiling approval. could h

the va is able to do this right now. so thank you very much. and so, mr. ident, this is how we're expanding access. this is how we're bringing the very best technology available in the can country, and really thanks to your help and cutting through the regulation, the office of american innovation, we're able to expand access dramatically today and to roll this out. and as you said, with our accountability bill, our replacing our electronic medical record, the progress we're making in six months we have been able to do tremendous things. it is just the beginning of what we're going to do for our veterans. so thank you very much. >> well, thank you very much. [ applause ] >> thank you, doctor. i want to thank him and your skin, i hope your skin is going to be in perfect shape. looked pretty good to me. what do i know? >> mr. amisqua, why don't you say something, if you want to say hello to the president? >> good morning, mr. president. how are you? >> very good. you look very healthy to me. i will tell you that. please make sure his skin is perfect. okay. pe

a report by the va inspector general found dirty conditions and supply shortages dating all the way backo 2014, a second report found hawkins had broken va policy by sending sensitive information to private email accounts. after hawkins was initially demoted in april, the following month you'll remember you interviewed secretary shulkin and he held up this case as an example of how the trump administration wanted to finally clean things up. >> you just fire the head of the d.c. va hospital. is it easy to fire people when you find out egregious things happening? >> it's too hard to make sure when our leadership loses its way we are able to remove them. we need legislation to help me do the job the american people want me to do. >> in june, president trump signed a bill into law and it was aimed at stopping the merit systems protection board from reversing the va's moves to fire employees. tonight the va is saying it's trying to quickly assess the development see whether the new powers the president got in june will allow them to fire hawkins. we are told hawkins has a desk job in washingt

how cool would it be if the va actually became the model for the rest of us? now, stanford researchers trained a computer to diagnose skin cancer, it's as accurate as 21 dermatologists combined. tech isn't just about the device but its scope where great quantities of data are gathered fast, then sifted to. diagnosing a mole among thousands is now no different than a gps software finding the best to take home. innovation solves what politicians can't. no bureaucrats came up with this stuff. it's the lesson from obamacare, politicians can't fix anything. their definition of fixing is making something permanently broken, asking them to fix health care is like handing a blender to a fish and saying make me a daiquiri. we've got to get health care away from bureaucrats, and into the hands of innovators and brainiacs who know how to solve things. they have the minds and the machines come all we need from politicians is their absence. this is some amazing stuff. it's not developed by politicians. it is in the direction here, but these people take care of the problem?

something goes so far in this country if you get enough people to believe in something, administer the vaon you can change. heather: how do you do that when there are not a lot of people speaking in favor of him which is why we hear him defending himself so much. >> the va specifically, that is a mission bigger than any one person or administration, 22 million americans, veterans that served this country and deserve something in return, i believe good people work at the va. i inherently don't trust bureaucrats in government but the people that take your blood pressure and and ask your healthcare every day need to know people believe in them so they will be motivated about their job and wants to do it. heather: i want your comment and what the president had to say about afghanistan, you were in afghanistan as a bomb technician, lost your legs, what do you think? >> an amazing job explaining the difference in tactics, how we are going to do the day-to-day, what our goals are. the men and women fighting this battle are at a loss of what is the actual mission, a difference between an 8-year-o

the va is able to do this right now. thank you very much. mr. t, this is how we are expanding access, this is how we are bringing the very best technology available in the country and it really, thanks to your help and coming through the regulation, the office of american innovation, we are able to expand access dramatically today and to roll this out. as you said, with our accountability bill, replacing electronic goal stomach medical records, we've been able to do incredible things. this is just the beginning of what we are going to do, so thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, doctor. i want to thank him and i hope your skin is in perfect health. you look pretty good to me, what do i know? >> why don't you say something if you want to say hello to the president? >> good morning, mr. president, how are you a question mark >> you look very healthy to me, i will tell you that please make sure his skin is perfect. thank you very much, great technology, great to meet you. thank you. [applause] we're going to west virginia tonight, we're goin

president also offered up this warning. >> somebody that works at the va is bad to the people of the va. disrespectful. not treating our fellow patriots well. we look at them and we say, you're fired. >> veterans appeals improvement and modernization act was passed unanimously in the senate. >>> sam sung is hopes its layest product unvailing will help resurrect consumer trust. releasing its brand new galaxy 8 phone. a year after sam sungs mass i recall of fire prone phones and exploding batteries. note 7 launched crashed and burned in amidcomplaints of cat catching fire while charging. presales start tomorrow. >>> a breeze out there tonight. we take a live look at the air mark building in center city. this cooler weather will continue. >> glenn schwartz here with the neighborhood forecast. >> that's right the less humid air came in today. and now the cooler air is going to follow. one place that did not exactly have a beautiful day today, kate may. a lot of clouds there. but the next few days a different story. the sun will be out. and you're going to be having beautiful weather just

she's outside of the va in northwest d.c. an hally? >> reporter: good morning, guys. hawkins is officially back on the payroll here at the department of veterans affairs and that has some of the va's top brass up in arms. now you may remember fox5's coverage of this big story earlier this summer brian hawkins was fired from his position as director here at the va hospital back on july 28th this was after months of investigation into allegations of missing equipment and dirty conditions at this d.c. fac hawkins also allegedly st secure va information to his and his wife's private e-mail accounts which is obviously a violation of va policy. now, hawkins claiming he was wrongfully terminated appealed his termination to the federal merit systems protection board which on august 2nd ordered his rehire pending the out come of the investigation. va secretary david shulkin has made it clear he's speaking out. does he not agree with this order he says he'll explore other ways to reverse the decision saying "no judge who has never run a hospital and never cared for our nation's

here is what he said >> i don't take it going after me that's an option that we are looking at the va deadline came up and we were not able to do that then. we have plenty of options ahead of us.

the weight -- wait is. we delivered same day mental health services at every va medical center. [applause] president trump: we have opened the promised white house va hotline. that is a big deal. we have dramatically increased the number of veterans approved to see the doctor of their choice and signal legislation to continue that very important choice program that i spoke to you about last year, and i want to thank the american legion for your help in getting this done. you have been so helpful. thank you very much. something they have been trying to pass for 40 years and we have passed va accountability legislation. if somebody that works at the va is that to the people of the not treatingtful, our fellow patriots well, we look at them and we say, you're fired. that is it. they do not do a good job, they are out because we want people to do a great job. we were not able to do that before. that was a hard piece of legislation to get passed. it has been worked on for so long we got it done so we are proud of that. last week i signed to the veterans educational assistance act. it

you didn't do it -- >> i don't take it as going after me that's an option we were looking at but the va deadline came up and we weren't able to do that then i'm not that worried about this. we have plenty of options ahead of us. we will pay our debts and make the debt limit, hit the increase before is penetrated, meaning we'll pass a debt limit increase, plenty of options. that one wasn't available. >> does it include a clear hike in the debt ceiling? >> i'm not going to negotiate to the media but we have a lot of options in front of us not worried about getting this done, we will pass the increase before he hit the debt limit. >> the deadline comes a day before the government funding deadline comes you said yesterday you're looking at short term solution through december. >> the senate has double duty. they have to pass personnel, meaning judges and appointments and ambassadors and subcabinet officials so the senate is slower in the first year because they have all of the people to process. we're going to finish our appropriations in about a week or so. it will take more time for the s

disarray at the va. ng it to rehire the former director of va center in washington, d.c. brian hawkins was fired last month after intern investigation revealed he sent sensitive information about the hospital to wife's personal e-mail. hawkins argued that he was wrongly terminated so the protection issuing him to stay, david slammed the decision, no judge that has never run a hospital or never cared veterans will force me to put an employer back into a position when he posed sift risks to veterans. he goes onto say, protecting veterans is the most important responsibility. shul kin has vowed to fight the reappointment. lea gabrielle. lea, your reaction here? >> well, you know, i think first of all, when you look at this particular perp who serving in the va and the work that he did, the report said, quote that the hospital had the highest levels of chaos. so he was clearly in effective leader. this is one of the issues in the va system, 18 of 25 sterile stores locations for syringes were found to be dirty

in a few moments, i will sign the va choice and quality employment act of 2017. l will ensure that veterans continue to have the ability to see the doctor of their choice, so important, and don't have to wait or travel long distances for care and during the campaign, i kept talking about it. people, these great, incredible veterans, our finest, they're waiting in line for seven days, nine days, 14 days, for ailments that could be fixed quickly, and they end up dying of things that could be taken care of very, very routinely. and i said, that's never going to happen when i'm president. and i said, even at the time, before having tremendous research given to me and after the research was given, it was still back to the same basic common sense, why can't they go out and see a doctor? if they have to wait seven days or 14 days online, why can't they see a doctor and we'll pay for the cost of the doctor and that's going to be a lot less expensive but more importantly, you're going to have immediate medical care for our veterans, and that's what we're doing, and they're

we've opened the promised white house va hotline. that's a big deal. we've dramatically increased the number of veterans approved to see the doctor of their choice and signalled legislation to continue that very important choice program that i spoke to you about last year, and i want to thank the american legion for your help in getting this done. you have been so helpful. thank you very much. something they've been trying to pass for 40 years, and we've passed. va accountability legislation. so if -- if somebody that works at the va is bad to the people of the va, disrespectful, not treating our fellow patriots well, we look at them and we say, you're fired. that's it. that's it. they don't do a good job, they're out. because we want people -- we have great people at the va, but we want people that do a great job. we weren't able to do that before. that was a hard piece of legislation to get passed. it's been worked on for so long. we got it done. so we're very proud of that. last week, i also signed the harry w. combry veterans educational assistant a

you have never going to pin the debt ceiling to the va bill. >> first of all we have to raise the debt ceiling. >> that's not what he says. he says shut the government down. build a wall. >> and i disagree with him. as my good friend used to say if you agree with me 60 percent don't vote for me. 9 90% see a psychiatrist. >> i've been there for two and a half years. congress goes at a slow pace. than i would like to see it go. i think there's a lot of things we'd like to get dup. i think he wants to govern. >> is what if he puts the flag at sand and says this wall's getting done and i'll shut the government down. the i know he can't. i know it's an operation of congress. this is what the president is saying. what happens? >> congress, again, as you just said, congress will determine what happens. we're going to do the budget. present his budget over to congress. but that's just a list of his priorities. i sat with a colleague of mine who's been there for 13 terms, 26 years. he says he's never seen a presidential budget get passed. article one of the constitution gives congress the abili

we're getting candidates that are of the highest quality into the va system now so that our veterans have more choices and more access to the absolute best possible care. >> mr. trump says he's dedicated to making sure all veterans get colder-class treatment. >>> coming up, day two of outside lands music festival. >> plus the two popular bay area lakes now open to the public after a toxic algae bloom shut them town. >> changes on the way tomorrow and monday as we look live toward the bay bridge. we'll have the weather forecast and news coming up after a break. the so-calle >>> firefighters are making significant progress on a wildfire burning near lake berryessa in napa county. the fire is 60% contained. cal fire says evacuation warnings in the area have been lifted and several roads that were closed are now back open. >>> and a wildfire in morgan hill is now mostly contained. it broke out yesterday afternoon near hail and tilton avenues and burned through grass and oak trees. the fire covers 117-acres and is now 70% contained. the cause is under investigation. >>> two lakes have just

what the president said was that his strong preference had been when they passed the va bill that they attached the debt ceiling to that so we wouldn't be dealing with this in september. what i have said before, my strong preference is we have a clean debt ceiling but the most important is the debt ceiling will be raised in september. i have had discussions with leaders in both parties in the house and senate and we are all on the same page. the government intends to pay its debts and the debt ceiling will be raised. >> when the vice president was in the region almost every nation he went to expressed reservations about u.s. military involvement in venezuela. will it be enough to from taking any military action and if it i situation in venezuela? >> he had a very successful trip through latin america. i don't think there's ever been a time where we are better aligned with our partners. >> in terms of military options there is no such thing as a diplomatic option or an economic option. we try to int gait all elements together. in terms of contingency planning and trying to invision, wha

they don't talk about the all time high stock market, they don't talk about reforms to the va or about manufacturing jobs we are bringing back to america by the hundreds of thousands. peter: elizabeth pearson saying jim justice deceived the state of west virginia when he ran as a democrat sweet months ago, west virginians have learned they can't trust jim justice. the president back in the white house will hold a phone call with the french president e manual macroin before leaving for his vacation but we may hear from him from time to time. heather: we will at least on twitter. donald trump back in his element last night. peter: anyone who wants to write the obituary of this president needs to watch. his base is with him, more energized than ever because they have seen the depth of the swamp and fight until like it is. heather: the president said he is going to fight the witchhunt as he called the special counsel mueller investigation and as the grand jury was put into place for the russia probe, but doesn't mean the end is near. >> the russia story is a total fabrication. it is just a

i would like to begin by -- for secretary david the incredible progress that he's making at the va. strides.s thank you very much. we appreciate it. can tell you the veterans appreciate it. today i'm pleased to announce through istoric break that will expand va services to veterans. patients and we'll do this through telehealth services. that's what it's called. telehealth. e're expanding the able to of veterans to connect with their va healthcare team from anywhere on the bile application veterans own phone or the which is a bigger and bigger request. also, in suicide prevention. it will make a tremendous difference for the veterans in rural locations in particular. we're launching the mobile app that will allow v.a. patients to schedule and change their appointments at v.a. facilities using their smartphones. this is something they were never able to do. technology has given us this advantage, but unfortunately we have not taken advantage of that until now. we are working tirelessly to keep our promises to our great veterans. in my campaign and on the campaign trail, veterans mean

after world war ii the va was very important here. all these people who work, rosie the riveter types as well as the military guys coming home. they all got va loans. in the late 1940s the men were going back to school and all that kind of stuff and california had a history wants it developed its highway system making college free. it was free during the 50s and 60s when they put together its higher education or a-gram, university colleges and it didn't last long as far as i'm concerned. mid-60s when reagan became governor in 66th that's when he and the board of regents began to install tuition and the csu followed and college is not so much. that was the golden. and then there was a lot of manufacturing here. all the parts that go with automobiles and other manufactured in california. the 70s and 80s were difficult. the pulse wasn't beating quite so hard and quite so fast and quite so loud. they began to go into a very serious period of discrimination and particularly against immigrants and people don't remember this anymore but are i

in 2015, va whistle-blower helped blow the lid off the scandal at the phoenix va testified before congressce of accountability and whistle-blower protection. brandon coleman joins me now. brandon, you and others have been courageous whistle-blowers in phoenix exposing what happened there and across the country. first of all, remind our viewers what happened to you when you blew the whistle in phoenix. >> thanks for having me, pete. i'm a counselor -- i was a counselor with the va in phoenix, and i blew the whistle on suicidal veterans not being properly watched. and my medical records as a marine core veteran were being rifled through by other employees. i was sent home for 461 days with pay while they tried to fire me, and i fought back every step of the way and won my case. pete: and your story, unfortunately, while it is unique, it has happened to a lot of whistle-blowers, which is why as a new accountability bill, this new office was formed. usually, as we've seen in the va culture, whistle-blowers are cast aside. instead, you've been promoted to this office. tell us about your new job

addressed the american legion at national convention, the president praised his team's efforts to fix the vand talked about keeping his pledge to those who serve the country so well. >> i promised you i would make it my priority to fix the broken va and deliver our veterans the care they so richly deserve. and you see what has been happening. now you have a true reformer in secretary david shelton. he has done an incredible job. heather: we are learning about the white house memo that would give james madison six month to fully prepare a transgender troupe band. the wall street journal was first report a mass call for considering deploy billy, ability to serve in a war zone and the legal means to decide to kick out current transgender servicemembers. new transgender recruits would be banned and ordered to stop spending on medical treatments for current transgender troops. nancy pelosi ripped this move on twitter writing this is not how you keep america safe, period. hashtag protect trans-troops. critics say transgender people are just as deployable as other servicemembers, the president says

still they agree the va study is inclusive and much more is need. >> i think they're trying to scare bit. but i think that the doctor needs to follow along and see how the patient reacts to this strain. how the patient reacts to this strain. >> reporter: strict doctor supervision is one of the recommendations coming from the new va research as well as a call for doctors to educate all of their patient about the negative effects of long-term heavy marijuana use. iain? >> joyce, the good news more experts are working on finding relief for people dealing with pstd. >> that they are. ♪ >> on to your fox 29 weather authority right now. rain may have dampened the day for lot of folks on the beach making up for the lot of time on the wildwood boardwalk. kathy orr has your forecast in 15 seconds much >> it is a busy time down the shore for sure. another look at wildwood where it's a great night to be outsi outside. it is warm it's little bit hum humid. we do have areas of fog out there as well. temperature in philadelphia 75. 60s to the north and west. down the shore it is still warm with a l

under the leadership of secretary, the va is set to fix the broken va system. finally, before i open it up to take your questions, as you're all very well aware, oddly, we have quite a few of them going on. major garrett, happy birthday. but even more importantly, i'm pretty lucky. i think i have two of the best parents in the world. it's my dad's birthday, so happy birthday, dad. and it's my niece's birthday. i get to knock out a lot of stuff today. my only niece caroline turned 4 today. so with that, i will take your questions >> sarah, there seems to be acrimoniy between the president and congressional leadership. how do you prepare this relationship going into the fall? >> look, i think the relationships are fine. certainly, there are going to be policy differences. but there are also a lot of shared goals, and that's what we're focused on. we're disappointed that worker, they failed to get it repealed and replaced. but at the same time, president trump has worked with leader mcconnell to reach out to other members and to work on those shared goals, and we'

plus, he was fired for e-mailing sensitive information, but now the man hired to lead d.c.'s va hospital for years is back on the job. we have the late breaking details. and active duty transgender troops are fighting back against the president's plan to ban hem property military. the news at 11 starts right now. fox5 was first to break the news the d.c. police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man will not face criminal charges. thanks for joining us, i'm tony perkins though the officer won't face charges, terrence sterling's family still wants justice and answers. fox5's marina maracco joins us fow with the latest. marina. >>reporter: and in response to the decision that came down earlier today there was a small canned light vigil right here at third and m and this is where that fatal shooting took place back in september of 2016. you see here on the lamppost there are some small posters that have been left behind herement it say s no justice, no piece. you see terrence sterling's face. although the d.c. police officer , a four year veteran of the force is not facing crim

the agency says it's opposed at headquarters in the top official who overseas va health care. rans who seek care at the medical center recently told us whoever is in charge at the dc medical center must ensure veterans are safe and have the needed supplies. >> i'm not going to say that the va medical center is perfect. no hospital is perfect. that's a high volume operation over there. they can careless about their short of supplies. as far as they're concerned. go out to cvs to the pharmacy and get what i need. >> the secretary of the va in a statement released to news 4 says no judge ever cared for our nation's veterans will force me to put an employee back in the position when he allowed pose potential safety risk to our veterans. brian hawkins did not return our request for comment. we'll keep watching this case and keep you all updated. >> i know you will, thanks, scott. >> the i-team is working on a half hour special to keep your kids safe in school. this sunday, scott will walk you through his year-long investigation into teacher misconduct, cases the big changes made to

we spoke with a number every military veterans, wandering, how the va study might affect prescriptions medical marijuana including one exmarine who says it is saving his life. but it is not the only thing. >> i would rather be a little bit anxious than be drooling on myself or want to commit suicide like the pills that i was on made me feel. >> retired marine staff sergeant mike came home from iraq and kosovo, facing anxiety, depression, ptsd, pain. >> over a period of five years, i was on 40 different medications. >> now he's down to two pills a day, and his medical marijuana. >> i can tell that you cannibis works for me. it might not work forever. >> but mike explains it didn't happen overnight, and it takes more than cannibis to keep his fears, pain and demons in check. >> if i just used cannibis, and didn't go to therapy, and didn't really work on myself to try and get over the hurdles that i had to get over, i wouldn't be where i am now. >> he says he's felt the side effect outlined in the new va study, finding marijuana may not help with most chronic pain, and might even make pts