Washington, DC (March 17, 2006) – This week, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) requested $3 million from the House Appropriations Committee for a Veterans Clinic in La Grange. 

Earlier this month, representatives from Congressman Hinojosa’s staff led a delegation from Fayette County, including County Judge Ed Janecka, to Audie Murphy Hospital in San Antonio for a discussion about opportunities for veteran’s health care services in Fayette County.  Fayette County has a large number of veterans that currently have to travel to Austin for basic health care services and to Temple for surgery and major operations.  The delegation met with representatives from Audie Murphy Hospital, the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and the Veterans Administration for an overview of changes to VA policies over the past 10 years. 

“It is difficult enough to get quality and affordable healthcare in rural communities,” said Hinojosa.  “For veterans the problem is often compounded; traveling hundreds of miles for basic services is sometimes just not an option.  It is my hope that the Appropriations Committee will see the validity and need of this request and provide veterans who loyally served their country the healthcare services they deserve.”

Recent reports have revealed that more than 260,000 veterans applied to receive health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in fiscal year 2005 but were turned away because of cost cutting decisions to limit veterans’ access to VA hospitals, clinics and medications.  Congressman Hinojosa has also called on the Administration to seek adequate funding in FY 2007 to allow these veterans to get the care and medications they need at the VA. 

Congressman Hinojosa will be working closely with other members of the Texas delegation and the Appropriations Committee to try and secure funding for a Veterans Clinic in La Grange.