A new study to determine whether the Sauk Valley can support a clinic should be finished in August. If results are favorable, he will try to get the money in next year's budget, Hare said during a discussion with the Telegraph's editorial board.

It comes on the heels of an initial report he called "fatally flawed."

"The first study wasn't even remotely close to being accurate," Hare said. "I don't know who threw it together, but that's what it was Ñ thrown together."

For example, it said travel time between Sterling and Iowa City, where there's a Veterans Administration hospital, was 20 minutes. The drive actually is about two hours.

CGH Medical Center bought the former Readel-Wells dental clinic across the street nine months ago, in hopes off making it a VA clinic. Ed Andersen, CEO and president of CGH, has discussed the possibility with Hare's staff.

Veterans have told him they must go to Iowa City for certain procedures, such as X-rays or CAT scans. CGH would be willing to provide those services and more if there was a VA clinic, Andersen said.

A clinic would cost $5 million to $7 million and could provide checkups, blood work and other outpatient care.

There are enough veterans within a 35-mile radius to support a VA clinic, Andersen said.

Hare spoke to Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake last week and reiterated how important the clinic is to the district, he said.

"At this point, I am cautiously optimistic this is going to happen," Hare said. "The secretary said he thinks something is going to come here; what that something is remains to be seen. It could be a full-blown (clinic)."

There are VA clinics in Freeport, Rockford and the Quad Cities, and a VA hospital in Madison, Wisc.

"If I could get this clinic opened by the time I leave office, that would make it worth being in the House," Hare said.

This is his first term in office, and Hare already has brought in $300,000 to expand the Whiteside Community Health Clinic.