Washington, Sep 16, 2007 - The Sauk Valley's newest congressman is keeping up the pressure for a proposed new medical clinic for area military veterans.

We're glad he is.

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, sees no reason why a Veterans Assistance Clinic can't be started in Sterling or Rock Falls to serve thousands of veterans in the region.

It would mean less hassle for veterans - no more long road trips to Iowa or Wisconsin for routine appointments. It would mean better medical care - veterans would be more likely to see the doctor if it didn't involve so much time-consuming travel.

Hare, who proposed the new clinic in February, is showing persistence in getting it approved. He had hoped to insert funding for the project in the Veterans Administration budget, only to discover the VA believes there aren't enough veterans around here to justify a new clinic - even though the 2000 U.S. Census counted nearly 21,000 veterans in Whiteside, Lee, Carroll, Ogle and Bureau counties combined.

The VA's coolness to the idea hasn't stopped Hare. He came up with a new approach that has the support of the powerful chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, a California Democrat.

Hare and Filner want money for a Sauk Valley clinic plus four other clinics across the country approved through the earmark process. They're hoping to get this $10 million earmark passed by both houses of Congress before the end of the month, so the money will be available in the new fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

By bringing Filner to Rock Falls last week to talk to local veterans, Hare helped cement the chairman's commitment to the project. It remains to be seen whether they will succeed, but you have to give them credit for trying.

For a freshman congressman, Hare is showing promise. He's latched on to the veterans clinic proposal and continues to advocate for it. He's already gained enough clout in eight months to bring a House committee chairman to the Sauk Valley.

Of course, Hare, 58, really is an old hand around Congress, having served as former U.S. Rep. Lane Evans' district director for many years.

We're gratified Hare has spent so much effort on behalf of the veterans of the Sauk Valley. The next time he visits, we hope it's to announce approval of money for the new veterans clinic.

As Filner stated earlier this year, "We call our veterans 'heroes' for a reason, and the heroes from past wars deserve all the care and dignity that this nation can bestow."

We couldn't agree more.