(Washington, D.C.)  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers today applauded the recent appointments of Sharon Helman as Director and Chris Martin as Associate Director of the Jonathan M. Wainwright Veterans Administration Medical Center in Walla Walla. Helman was appointed last fall and officially began duties in January. Martin is scheduled to begin in the upcoming weeks.

“I am pleased to see the VA following through with their commitment to fund a full-time director and associate director,” said McMorris Rodgers. “I welcome both Sharon and Chris to the community and look forward to working with them to ensure that local veterans continue to have access to quality health care. This is a very positive step for the future of this facility.”

For the past year, McMorris Rodgers has advocated for a permanent VA Director in Walla Walla. In April of 2006, McMorris Rodgers sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson asking him to find and fund a permanent replacement for the Walla Walla VA director. During his visit the following July, Secretary Nicholson announced funding for a permanent director.

McMorris Rodgers met with Helman last month in Washington D.C. to discuss mental health care, a possible nursing home, inpatient care and urgent care at the Walla Walla VA Medical Center.