add to del.icio.us			digg this		print		email

Cornyn: Valley VA Expansion A Critical Step In Fulfilling Commitment to South Texas Veterans

Senator Reiterates Commitment to Seeking New Facility in the Region to Meet Long-Term Needs

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today issued the following statement applauding the decision by Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. James Peake to expand the South Texas VA Health Center in Harlingen and reiterating his commitment to seeking a new VA inpatient hospital in the region:

“This is welcome news for our veterans in South Texas who have waited far too long for the quality health care they have earned through their service. Having met repeatedly with these fine men and women over the years, even as recently as last week, I have witnessed firsthand their hard work and determination to see that the more than 100,000 veterans in the Rio Grande Valley are not forced to drive long hours to access first-rate health care. On my part, I have worked on their behalf to push the federal government to do more to meet the inpatient health care needs of our South Texas veterans—through several direct requests to the VA Secretary and legislative efforts.

“Rest assured, while expanding the current VA health facility in Harlingen is an important step to address this problem in the short-term, it should not be the last step for the long-term. Our veterans in South Texas have made tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedoms and security. They deserve access to top-notch health care at a world-class inpatient facility, one that matches the strong commitment they made years ago to keep our nation safe. I will continue to work closely with local officials and veterans’ advocates to push for a new VA hospital facility in the region, which will serve to complement the ongoing expansion at the Harlingen facility.

“To that end, I intend to soon reintroduce the South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act to force action on the critical issue of inpatient health care for our South Texas veterans. I was very pleased President-elect Obama cosponsored my bill last year, and I am hopeful that, once sworn in as President, he will follow through and direct the VA to formulate a way forward that fully meets the inpatient needs of our South Texas veterans.”

South Texas has one of the highest per capita levels of veterans in the nation. The estimated 100,000 veterans in South Texas are sometimes forced to drive up to 250 miles for inpatient medical care.

Sen. Cornyn’s legislative efforts on behalf of South Texas veterans include:

On July 20th, 2007 Sen. Cornyn introduced the South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act of 2007, S. 1838. This is a Senate companion bill to similar legislation introduced in the U.S. House in January by U.S. Reps. Ortiz, Hinojosa, Doggett and Cuellar. The bill would require the VA Secretary to consider the following three options for meeting the inpatient needs of our veterans in Far South Texas:

• A project for a public-private venture to provide inpatient services and long-term care to veterans in an existing facility in Far South Texas; or
• A project for construction of a new full-service, 50-bed hospital with a 125-bed nursing home in Far South Texas; or
• A sharing agreement with a military treatment facility in Far South Texas
• Then, within 180 days of enactment, the VA Secretary would be required to notify Congress which one of these options is most appropriate and then execute that option. If the VA Secretary decides the construction of a new VA hospital is the most appropriate option, Sen. Cornyn’s bill would authorize appropriations in the amount of $175 million for the project.

In 2008, Sen. Cornyn offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Department of Defense Authorization bill that would require the VA to formulate a definitive plan for meeting the inpatient health care needs of more than 100,000 veterans in South Texas. This amendment was based on Sen. Cornyn’s bill, the South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act of 2007.

Sen. Cornyn is a cosponsor of the Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, which would authorize the VA to pay travel expenses for veterans who are forced to travel great distances to VA facilities.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

You will need to have Real One Player installed on your computer to be able to listen or watch the clips above. Real One Player is free software that lets you play audio and video files. Download Real One Player