A deal announced Monday would authorize about $17 billion to help veterans avoid long waits for health care, hire more doctors and nurses and lease new clinics across the country.

The agreement is intended to fix the veterans health care program which has come under fire for long patient wait times and falsified records to cover up for the delays.

"Funding for veterans' needs must be considered a "cost of war" and appropriated as emergency spending," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs panel.

Joe Clemente is a retired veteran who lives in Tampa. He said he's experienced long waits and record keeping mistakes.

"Just not too long ago, me personally, I went to my doctor, I got a new doctor, and she's going through everything with me and she says "How are you doing with your hearing aids?" and I said "Excuse me, I don't have hearing aids," said Clemente.

The new measure would require the VA to pay private doctors to treat veterans who can't get a fast appointment at VA hospitals and clinics or who live at least 40 miles away from one.

U.S. Representative David Jolly, R-FL., said while the bill will give veterans more access to health care, more longterm reform is needed.

"At the end of the day I think we need to give every veteran a choice card. I think we need to give every veteran complete control of their own health care. This bill doesn't do that but it does go a long way toward addressing the emergency we have now," said Jolly.

Local veterans said that while they welcome any improvements to the system, they're hoping for a more permanent fix.

"Is this just going to be a band aid, a quick fix because of all the heat that's going on? Or are they going to be serious about it and take it to where it should go? That's the question," said Clemente.

The deal requires a vote by a conference committee and then votes in the full House and Senate. Lawmakers are predicting a decision by the end of the week.