WASHINGTON — House and Senate negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to deal with the long-term needs of the struggling Department of Veterans Affairs and plan to unveil their proposal Monday.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., who lead the Senate and House veterans’ affairs committees, negotiated over the weekend on legislation to overhaul the VA and provide funding to hire more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

Aides said they worked out final language of the agreement, which would be circulated among lawmakers Monday ahead of a formal announcement in the afternoon. One House aide, not authorized to speak publicly about the talks, said the final agreement more closely mirrors a Senate measure overwhelmingly approved by Democrats and Republicans last month.

A final cost of the far-reaching measure was not immediately available Sunday but is expected to be critical to determining whether the legislation will enjoy the support of House Republicans, many of whom have been concerned about dramatically increasing costs for government-run programs.

According to a draft summary of the measure provided by House aides, Congress would give eligible military veterans a “Veterans Choice Card” and allow them to seek health care outside the VA medical system from Medicare-eligible providers, other federally qualified health centers or facilities operated by the Defense Department or federal Indian Health Service centers.

Veterans eligible to seek care outside the system would need to be enrolled by Aug. 1, or enroll for VA care within five years of ending their military service in Afghanistan or Iraq, according to the draft agreement. Veterans could leave the VA system if they’re unable to receive an appointment within 14 days – the current VA wait-time goal – or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility.

The measure also would authorize $5 billion in emergency spending to pay for hiring new employees; require the VA to enter into 27 leases for new major medical facilities; expand a scholarship program for the surviving spouses of service members who died during conflicts since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; and allow the VA to provide counseling care and other services to veterans who suffered sexual trauma while in the ranks.

If the legislation passes before Congress’ five-week recess begins at the end of the week, it will avoid an embarrassing failure for lawmakers.