SOUTH BEND -- U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd, made it official Friday, announcing that the Department of Veterans Affairs has approved funding for a new, community-based outpatient clinic in Elkhart County.

"As a member of the House Veterans Affairs committee, ensuring quality, accessible health care for America's veterans is one of my top priorities," Donnelly said.

"As we enter the Memorial Day weekend and remember those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, I am happy to announce with Congressman (Mark) Souder (R-3rd) that the VA will soon be opening a new community-based outpatient clinic in Elkhart County."

"I'm delighted that, after several years of hard work, there will be a VA clinic in Elkhart County," Souder said in the joint statement.

"A result of bipartisan work with my colleague Joe Donnelly, the new clinic shows what we can accomplish when we work together," Souder said.

Donnelly also praised his Republican predecessor, former U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola, for his contribution to the long-term effort to secure the clinic.

During his term, which began in January, Donnelly said he had met twice with Cathi Spivey-Paul, director of the Northern Indiana VA Health Care System, in efforts to win approval for the new facility.

Donnelly said the clinic will provide convenient medical care for more than 1,200 area veterans in its first year, and is expected to eventually treat up to 4,000 veterans a year, including some patients who are now being treated at the veterans clinic in South Bend.

Donnelly had announced in late February that the clinic could open by sometime early next year, but was short on detail at that time.

Details were still somewhat sketchy Friday -- Donnelly said he doesn't yet know how much money will be allotted or where the clinic will be -- only that the facility will be open within nine months.

Donnelly said the nine-month timeline could mean that the clinic will be in an existing building rather than a new one, but said he doesn't know for sure either way.

The congressman, who was in South Bend on Friday, said the VA informed his office of the decision early Friday afternoon, saying it, "would be a great Memorial Day present to all the veterans back home."

Staff writer James Wensits:
jwensits@sbtinfo.com