Veterans Hospital for South Texas

December 14, 2011 Update on VA hospital efforts

What is happening with Congressman's Henry Cuellar's HB 1318? He filed this bill and it was sent to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where it was send to the House sub-committee on Veteans Health. In June 2011, Cuellar attached his bill to the Military and Veterans Affairs and other related agencies Appropriation Bill-HB 2055 inJune of this year.  He claimed that it would bring us closer to getting a Full Service Medical Center for the valley. That bill passed the House with a 411-5 vote and was sent to the Senate. HB 1318 calls for an expansion the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center House Report 112-94 (accompanying HR 2055, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012).

The House Committee Report included the following language regarding the attachment:
Health care center expansions- Recognizing the lack of accessible VA services in many regions of the country, the Committee urges the Secretary to include in the VA Strategic Capital Improvement Plan the expansion of existing VA health care centers to include in-patient accommodations, urgent care services, and the full range of services required by women veterans when the absence of such services locally requires veterans to make round trips of more than five hours to access such services at a VA facility.

The Senate also passed 2055 and Congress agreed to send it to the President for his consideration on December 8, 2011. However, the final vote did not include anything on the amendment filed by Cuellar. At this time, we do not know if indeed HB 1318 as attached by Cuellar is part of the bill. The Appropriations bill is likely to become law.

Veterans need to call Cuellar's office and ask him or his staff what happened to his attached bill. Call now before it is send to the POTUS. With the holidays fastly approaching there might not be any new filings, but there is still time in case HB 1318 was not part of the bill.

Update on VA hospital

Message body

Harlingen, TX

Arturo Treto Garza

956.226.9176

December 10, 2011

This past summer, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) included legislation in the fiscal year 2012 Military Construction and Veterans Funding bill t(HB 2055) that would bring south Texas one step closer to having a full-service VA hospital. He attached his HB 1318 to it. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday June 14, 2011by a vote of 411 to 5 and on June 15, 2011 and was referred to the Senate.

Congressman Cuellar’s legislation calls for the expansion of veterans’ health care access and urges the VA Administration to prioritize the construction of a VA hospital in south Texas by placing it on the VA Strategic Capital Improvement Plan (SCIF), designed to place the project on a priority list. Additionally, Congressman Cuellar has introduced a bill to expand the existing VA health care center in Harlingen to provide in-patient care, urgent care services and a full range of services for women veterans as well as other support services.

The Senate voted on July 17, 2011 and passed with an 89-11 vote The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill (2055). The Senate voted on amendments of their own and again passed with a vote of 97-2. Cuellar’s amendment was included and remains as part of the bill. The bill now moves to a Conference Committee where both Chambers need to agree on. . The House agreed to a Conference Committee on this past Wednesday December 7, 2011 and presented a list of Conferees. There will be 19 conferees from the House and 17 from the Senate. The Senate also submitted names of the Conferees.

Veterans in south Texas are optimistic in the passage of the bill and that it will be forwarded to the POTUS. The POTUS has 10 days (inclding Sundays) to act on the action or it becomes law automatically. Of course he can review it and sign it or not approve it. Veterans hope that he signs it since he promised to help during his Presidential Election campaign.

At this time, a date has not been set for the Conference Committee conferees to meet. Veterans will monitor 2055’s movement. If the bill becomes law, then a proposal that is being worked on by the local Veterans Health Care Network will stand a better chance of getting funded through the SCIF..

V A Hospital for South Texas

Here we go again.  We are launching another effort through our Senators offices. They have agreed to submit and amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill pending before Congress.The National Defense bill is set to pass and amendments will also be approved if the amendments are allowed.  It is a long shot, but one that we need to look at.

 Here is the Press Release issued by the Senators.

UNITED STATES SENATE
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, JOHN CORNYN United States Senators - Texas For Immediate Release	CONTACT: Megan Mitchell (Cornyn) (202) 224-0704 Jeff Nelligan (Hutchison), 202-224-9767 Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Sens. Cornyn, Hutchison Offer Amendment To Bring Inpatient VA Facility To The Valley

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, today offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to incorporate a full-service inpatient health care facility into the existing South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care Center in Harlingen.

Sens. Cornyn and Hutchison have introduced similar legislation in the past and continue to make the case for a VA inpatient facility in Far South Texas with top-ranking VA officials, as well as the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (see attached). While the Senators have supported and welcomed expansions to outpatient and other services at the existing Harlingen VA facilities, they maintain that access to VA inpatient care still must be provided.

“This holiday season will see the return of tens of thousands of service members from locations across the globe, including the remaining 40,000 troops in Iraq who are winding down our nation’s 9-year mission there. Already, the growing population of 100,000 veterans in Far South Texas lacks adequate access to full-service inpatient health care, and further delay in providing this population with the local inpatient care they deserve is unacceptable. I will not give up the fight to make this inpatient facility a reality for the veterans of South Texas,” Sen. Cornyn said.

“A grateful nation cares for those who have answered the call to serve, even after they leave the battlefield,” said Sen. Hutchison. “The veterans of South Texas answered their nation’s call, and many of them went in harm’s way and risked everything for their country. This amendment will help to ensure that these South Texas veterans receive the care they deserve.”

The hospital issue is not dead. Veterans are still at it. It has been a long sought goal of many veterans and for once they feel that they have had an impact at the national level. Veterans must continue forward.  All veterans that have been active in this movement should re-charge their batteries and once again make an all out push for a VA hospital for the area.  Ana Garcia of  Cornyn’s office has been very aggressive in committing the senator’s office to make every effort to move the issue. Communications with the Senator’s national office are via satellite and those sessions are the next best thing to being there.  Veterans are counting on her continued full support.

Veterans Meet with State Rep. Lozano

Veterans meet with State Representative J. M. Lozano in Harlingen on October 20, 211. L-R: Joe Ibarra, Pete Prax Garza, Pedro Pete Herrera, Manuel Pena, Rep. Lozano, Irene T. Garza, Adelaido Lalo Cantu and Arturo Treto Garza.

Veterans Affairs Committee comes to South Texas

October 21, 2011

Veterans in the Rio Grande Valley failed to take advantage of a scheduled trip by Congressman Jeff Miller, the Chairman of the U S House Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller was invited to a summit sponsored by Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27). The Summit was held at the Del Mar College Campus in Corpus Christi, TX.
Valley veterans send hundreds of letters to the House Veterans Affairs Committee asking that Congressman Ruben Hinojosa's HB 837 be placed on the agenda for a markup. Congressman Miller is the one that decides what appears on the agenda to be discussed and voted on. At this time it is not known when the next Markup Session will be held, but it should not be that long.
Valley veterans could have met with him in person and made a personal requests. Also, Congressman Hinojosa could have let valley veterans know about the summit and Miller's visit and requested veteran representatives be allowed to meet with Miller. Farenthold has signed as Co-Sponsor of HB 837. Another opportunity like this will probably not happened during this Session.
Veterans must be more vigilant on happenings at the Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller was also instrumental in assisting Congressman Henry Cuellar get his HB 1318 attached to HB 2055. This bill called for an expansion of the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center using the Veterans Health Administration Specific Investment Capital Fund. HB 2055 has passed both Chambers in Congress and is set to go to the President.
Maybe this is why veterans in the Valley feel like they have won the battle for a Veterans Affairs Hospital. They are optimistic about it and hope that it is allowed to spend funds for HB 1318. The SPIC plan was accepting applications for funding from the different VA Health Care Systems throughout the nation. The first cycle would receive application by October 1, 2011. The local VA Health System did not submit one and it is hoped that the proposal will be ready for the second cycle with a deadline of April 2012.
Some veterans feel that pressure must still be placed on Congress Veteran Affairs Committees to markup HB 837, which is the sister bill of S 396 filed by Senator John Cornyn.

VA Hospital

State Representative J.M. Lozano (District 43) discussed the possibilites of getting the State to partner with the Federal Government in the development of an expansion of the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center. Veterans are looking for help from any of the Funds from the Texas Land Commission, the Military and Veterans Appropriations Committee and the Committee of Health. Proposition 8 (HJR7) passed in 2009 but has not being allocated any funds. The new law is not functional.
Lozano states that he will seek the assisstance of the other local representatives to get their ideas and suspport.

Veterans met with Texas State Reprentative District 43 on October 20 in Harlingen. Rep. Lozano wanted to know how he can help veterans. The conversation centered around Proposition 1 and the VA hospital issue. He agreed to future meeting for updates to and from him. He sounds real committed to helping.

C O L A increases

2012 COLA Increase

It’s offi­cial, mil­i­tary and fed­eral civil­ian retirees, sur­vivor ben­e­fit annu­i­tants, dis­abled vet­er­ans and Social Secu­rity recip­i­ents will see a 3.6 per­cent cost-of-living adjust­ment in Jan­u­ary, their first since 2009.

The 3.6% COLA will be effec­tive Dec 1 and will be reflected in Jan­u­ary retired pay, SBP, Social Secu­rity, and VA dis­abil­ity com­pen­sa­tion checks.

COLA is calculated by comparing the average inflation (as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI)) from 3rd quarter 2011 (223.2) to the baseline of 3rd quarter 2008 (215.5). The 2008 baseline must be used because the baselines for 2009 and 2010 were below that figure, and the law doesn’t allow a negative COLA.

For the month of September, the CPI figure is 223.688 -- a 0.2 percent increase from August.

For the Jul-Sep 2011 baseline period, the average CPI was 223.2. That is 3.59% above the 2008 baseline of 215.5, which rounds to 3.6% under the COLA law.

Blake Farenthold says House GOP frosh haven’t pushed their clout enough | Texas on the Potomac | a Chron.com blog

Blake Farenthold says House GOP frosh haven’t pushed their clout enough | Texas on the Potomac | a Chron.com blog

VA: Valley veterans being treated in San Antonio to boost quota numbers | RioGrandeGuardian.com | news source for the border

VA: Valley veterans being treated in San Antonio to boost quota numbers | RioGrandeGuardian.com | news source for the border

Garza: Harlingen should support effort to bring Shinseki to South Texas | RioGrandeGuardian.com | news source for the border

Garza: Harlingen should support effort to bring Shinseki to South Texas RioGrandeGuardian.com news source for the border

Garza: Veterans must continue to press for VA hospital | RioGrandeGuardian.com | news source for the border

Garza: Veterans must continue to press for VA hospital RioGrandeGuardian.com news source for the border

Torres: Hinojosa fighting hard to secure Valley veterans' hospital | RioGrandeGuardian.com | news source for the border

Torres: Hinojosa fighting hard to secure Valley veterans' hospital RioGrandeGuardian.com news source for the border

Veterans Meet with Mayor Boswell on VA hospital

Harlingen City Hall Harlingen, TX 78550 July 14, 2011 RGV Valley Vets met with Chris Boswell, Mayor of Harlingen, and Gabe Gonzales, Asst. City Manager regarding strategy for the new Full Service Medical Center for south Texas.  SB 396, HB 837 and HB 1318 were discussed.  Ruben Cantu asked that the city write a letter in support of these bills to the Veterans Affairs committee of each Chamber. Treto Garza also asked that a letter be send to Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs inviting him to come to the valley and visit the new Surgical Center. This visit will convince him that there is room at the facility to be expanded to a Full Service Medical Center and avoiding expensive construction costs for a new facility.  All the bills mentioned above have language addressing the need to expand the Harlingen facility to a Full Medical Service Center.  Joe Ibarra informed Mayor Boswell and Asst. Manager Gonzales that veterans needed the continued support of the city because things were shaping up and we had made some progress in our efforts. He added that the package handed to him had a full copy of all three bills.  The mayor told the group of 12 that he would indeed write a letter of support to the Veterans Affairs Committees.  He also stated that the RAHC medical school facilities woud help in making the site more receptive since VA looked for some type of medical school to be close to a VA hospital.  Cantu added that this is why it was important that the city of Harlingen be the flagship hospital for the newly created VA health care system.  The mayor told the group that he was in close contact with Jeff Milligan on the issue. He stated that Mr. Milligan and he had the opportunity to visit with Lt. Governor Dewhurst in Austin regarding the medical school and medical facilities in Harlingen.  The Lt. Gov. supports the efforts to bring better health care to south Texas. Alex Trejo of the Harlingen Veterans Advisory Board also attended the meeting.  Cantu is also a member of that committee. Commander Pete Garza of the Disabled American Veterans and two of his members were present as well as two members of the Vietnam Veterans of America and two from the American Legion. The others present were interested veterans that have been active in the quest for a Full Medical Service Center.  The group provided a detailed list of all the Congressional Bills filed in Congress since 1983 to present.  A total of 13 bills have been filed.  This session has seen a lot of activity on two of the bills.  HB 1318 was attached to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Other Related Agencies Appropiration Bill of 2012-H 2055 which passed by a 411 to 5 vote.  S 396 was presented to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on June 8, 2011, but was not on the agenda for a markup on June 29, 2011.  The group informed the Mayor that this is the very first time that bills submitted in Congress have been moved.  It shows that the efforts of veterans are being recognized. Veterans attending were: Sisto Barrera                        American Legion Alberto Perez                       American Legion Manuel Pena                        Vietnam Veterans of America Pablo Flores                         Vietnam Veterans of America Pete Garza                           Disabled American Veterans Bill Rodenbaugh                    Disabled American Veterans Alex Trejo                             Harlingen Veterans Advisory Ruben Cantu                         Harlingen Veterans Advisory Joe Ibarra                              U S Army Retired Adelaido Cantu                      U S Army Retired Arturo Treto Garza  Irene T. Garza was also present.

Left to right clockwise:  Pablo Flores, Manuel Pena, Joe Ibarra, Cisto Barrera, Alberto Perezm Adelaido Cantu, Treto Garza, BillRodenbaugh, Ruben Cantu, Alex Trejo, Gabe Gonzales, asst. city manager, and Mayor Chris Boswell.  Photo by Irene T. Garza 

Letter Of Thanks from Iraq

A Thank You to all Vietnam Vets from a Marine in Iraq

A guy gets time to think over here and I was thinking about all the support we get from home. Sometimes it's overwhelming. We get care packages at times faster than we can use them. There are boxes and boxes of toiletries and snacks lining the center of every tent; the generosity has been amazing. So, I was pondering the question: "Why do we have so much support?"

In my opinion, it all came down to one thing: Vietnam Veterans. I think we learned a lesson, as a nation, that no matter what, you have to support the troops who are on the line, who are risking everything. We treated them so poorly back then. When they returned was even worse. The stories are nightmarish of what our returning warriors were subjected to. It is a national scar, a blemish on our country, an embarrassment to all of us.

After Vietnam , it had time to sink in. The guilt in our collective consciousness grew. It shamed us. However, we learned from our mistake. Somewhere during the late 1970's and on into the 80's, we realized that we can't treat our warriors that way. So ... starting during the Gulf War, when the first real opportunity arose to stand up and support the troops, we did. We did it to support our friends and family going off to war. But we also did it to right the wrongs from the Vietnam era. We treat our troops of today like the heroes they were, and are, acknowledge and celebrate their sacrifice, and rejoice at their homecoming ... instead of spitting on them.

And that support continues today for those of us in Iraq . Our country knows that it must support us and it does. The lesson was learned in Vietnam and we are all better because of it.

Everyone who has gone before is a hero. They are celebrated in my heart. I think admirably of all those who have gone before me. From those who fought to establish this country in the late 1770's to those I serve with here in Iraq . They have all sacrificed to ensure our freedom. But when I get back home, I'm going to make it a personal mission to specifically thank every Vietnam Vet I encounter for THEIR sacrifice. Because if nothing else good came from that terrible war, one thing did. It was the lesson learned on how we treat our warriors. We as a country learned from our mistake and now we treat our warriors as heroes, as we should have all along. I am the beneficiary of their sacrifice. Not only for the freedom they, like veterans from other wars, ensured, but for how well our country now treats my fellow Marines and I. We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice.

Semper Fidelis,

Major Brian P. Bresnahan
United States Marine Corps

Strategic Capital Investment Plan of Veterans Affairs

This part of the June 14, 2011 House Veterans Affairs Committee report that was submitted.  I hope that the SCIP program does come through for us.  But read careful what the report states.  If anyone knows or finds any information on SCIP please let us know.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

For FY 2012, the Administration requests a total of $1.271 billion for VA's four construction accounts: Major Construction ($590 million); Minor Construction ($550 million); State Extended Care Facility Construction Grants ($85 million); and State Cemetery Construction Grants ($46 million). The total resource request would, assuming amounts for FY 2011 are funded at the President's requested level, translate to a reduction of $478 million, or 37.6 percent. Further, consistent with the requirements of section 905 of Public Law 111-275, the Administration proposes to allocate $136 million in major construction funding derived from bid savings.

VA's new Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process is a 10-year plan designed to identify and prioritize specific capital investment options to meet service delivery gaps in the areas of safety, security, utilization, access, seismic protection, facility condition assessments, parking and energy. SCIP projects a 10-year resource need of between $53 and $65 billion.

VA's total capital request (including facility leases, equipment, and non recurring maintenance needs not covered under the four construction accounts named above) for FY 2012 is $2.876 billion. At the present rate, it would take 20 years to meet the minimum resource need identified in the SCIP 10-year plan. We are, therefore, concerned that the SCIP plan is unrealistic on its face and would like the opportunity to engage the Administration on the plan going forward. Given that the stated needs of the system are vast, we recommend providing resources above the President's request for major and minor construction totaling $168 million.

San Benito War Memorial and 4th of July celebration

About 300+ people attended the events to commemorate the grand opening of the San Benito War Memorial at its site.  The planning has been on going for about 10 years according to speakers at the Event.  Several members of the War Memorial Committee were recognized.  Mayor Joe Hernandez did the presentation.  Victor Garza, was the MC.

Here comes the March!

Part of the audience in attendance at the San Benito War Memorial Celebration on 4th of July 2011

Tele Conference with Washington VA representatives

On Thursday June 30th, Houston Ernst of Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-TX-27) organized a tel-conference call regarding VA issues.  Present were representatives from Washington DC VA, Biro and Jeff Milligan, (VSIN 17) veterans service officers from Corpus Christi, McAllen, and Farenthold's staff members.  Also present were veterans participating from Harlingen.

It was a good meeting.  Part of the meeting dealth with daily problems at the VA clinics regarding services rendered and how veterans are treated.  An attempt to discuss Veterans Benefits Claims was set aside for this conference and it was agreed that another meeting on the subject would be forthcoming.  Some participating want someone from the Houston VARO to be present at that future meeting.  I was also mentioned to the participants from VA DC that veterans want the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to visit the south Texas and meet with veterans.

Milligan gave a power point presentation bringing those participating up to date.  The power point was the same on that was presented to veterans at the last MAC meeting.  It appears that those at VA DC are very much aware that the local VA will be submitting a proposal for Inpatient and Emergency services in south Texas.  The proposal will be the package that is being talked about relative to HB 1318 submitted by Congressman Cuellar. It will be submitted to the VA's SCIF planning.

It was difficult to identify who was talking at times and Houston agreed to send those participating a list of the participants and whom they represented.  This the first meeting of its kind that has occurred in south Texas.  For the very first time, we were able to talk to staff at the VA in DC.

Local veterans participated using the telephone intercom at Senator John Coryn's Harlingen Office provided by regional director Ana Garcia.

Veterans Allege VA Censoring Prayer

Veterans Allege VA Censoring Prayer

Markup meeting minutes

• Statements
• Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
  June 29, 2011

Subject to a notice sent to all Members, the Committee met in the President’s Room, off the Senate Floor, on June 29, 2011 at 11:21 a.m. The following member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee were present:  Mr. Tester, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Scott Brown, Mr. Moran, Ranking Member Burr, and Chairman Murray.
Madame Chairman:  Seeing that we now have a quorum, let’s move to the six agenda items. Before we begin, I want to comment that we are using technology to be a truly paperless committee.  Instead of creating a bunch of paper, we estimate that just this markup has saved $500 in paper and ink costs alone.  I also want every Member of this Committee to know that we have CBO Estimates for every agenda item, and views from stakeholders and the administration. Moreover, all mandatory spending is fully offset or assumed in the baseline, and all new discretionary programs are paid for.
The Committee’s practice is to report pending legislation en bloc, subject to amendments, and technical and conforming changes.  With the Ranking Member’s concurrence we will do this for items 1,3,4,5, and 6. We’ll then vote on S. 572.   Senator Burr, do you have the motion?
Mr. Burr:  Madame Chairman, in accordance with the Committee’s longstanding practice to vote on agenda items as soon as a quorum of eight is present, I move that the Committee order favorably reported to the Senate the five legislative items on today’s agenda, Items 1,3,4,5, and 6.  I further move that the reporting or approval of each of these items be subject to any amendments or motions subsequently adopted.  Finally I move that the Committee staff be directed to prepare the Committee Reports on these items and make necessary clerical, technical, and conforming changes necessary to conform with the budget act.
Madame Chairman:   Is there a second?  [A chorus of seconds were heard.]
The motion has been made and seconded.  Is there any discussion on the motion before we act?
Seeing none, the vote is on the motion that the Committee approve the five agenda items, en bloc.
All those in favor, say ‘aye.’  [A chorus of Ayes was heard]
All those opposed, say ‘no.’  [No Nays were heard]
The ‘ayes’ have it.  The motion is agreed to and the five agenda items are ordered reported to the Senate.  
Moving now to agenda item #2 – S. 572, is there any discussion on this bill before I call the vote?   Seeing none, the Clerk will call the roll.
Mr. Akaka – Aye
Mr. Tester – Aye
Mr. Burr – Nay
Mr. Isakson -- Nay
Mr. Wicker – Nay by proxy  (voted by Mr. Burr)
Mr. Johanns – Nay by proxy (voted by Mr. Burr)
Mr. Scott Brown – Nay
Mr. Moran – Nay
Mr. Boozman – Nay
Madame Chairman – Aye
The following proxy’s were voted by the Chairman: 
Mr. Rockefeller--  Aye by Proxy
Mr. Sanders -- Aye by Proxy
Mr Sherrod Brown – Aye by Proxy
Mr. Begich – Aye by Proxy
Mr. Webb – Aye by Proxy
.
Clerk:  They Ayes are 8, the Nays are 7, the measure prevails.
Chairman:  Thank you all, we are adjourned.
11:26 a.m.

Chart on Roll Call of Agenda Item II, S. 572.

Ayes	Senator	Nays
X by proxy	Mr. Rockefeller
X	Mr. Akaka
X by proxy	Mr. Sanders
X by proxy	Mr. Brown
X by proxy	Mr. Webb
X	Mr. Tester
X  proxy	Mr. Begich
	Mr. Burr	X
	Mr. Isakson	X
	Mr. Wicker	X by proxy
	Mr. Johanns	X by proxy
	Mr. Brown	X
	Mr. Moran	X
	Mr. Boozman	X
X	Madame Chairman
8	TALLY	7

Back to Hearing

Table of Contents

Transcript

• Markup

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs • 412 Russell Senate Bldg. • Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-9126 • Republican Staff: (202) 224-2074

 

NOTICE

Click on the link on Veterans Affairs Markup hearing  that was posted today. It will show that our bill S 396 was not placed on the agenda for a markup.  What does this mean to us?  It means that our bill in the Senate will not be discussed at all at today's meeting.
According to Dave Hanke, Assistant to Senator John Cornyn on Military and Veterans Affairs, this does not mean that the bill is dead.  It means that right now the Committee does not want to deal with it.  It was more or less expected but it was necessary that it at least was discussed at the June 8 hearing on bills before the Committee.  He urges veterans to continue with the letter writing campaign.  He also suggests of trying to bring Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki to the valley.  This is a tall order, but you never know if set our mind to it.
We have been told in the past that our bills were just filed and placed on a committee to gather dust.  The only reason for filing was to appease the veterans.  Well this Session the bills are moving.  So we must say, "Never say Never".
If any one has any suggestions please feel free to let us know.  You can call me at 226.9176.

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Hearings

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Hearings

Hearing on Senate Markup

Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison send a letter to the Veterans Affairs  requesting that S 396 be placed up for discussion at their June 29th markup session.  If S 396 gets markup, then it will be send to the Full House for a vote.  RGV Valley Vets have been writing to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair and to Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) ranking member. According to Cornyn's staff the letter was hand delivered.

 Hidalgo County Judge has also send a similar letter in support of S 396.  Judge Garcia's office has informed us that his email was send via fax with confirmation of receipt.

Also, some veterans have been emailing Senator Murray's Chief of Staff, Mike Spahn, to inform the Senator of S 396.  This was done fairly recently because slow mail would not get there before the meeting's agenda.  Emails were also sent to Jennifer McCarthy, clerk at the Vet/Aff Comm.

The committee has announced its schedule but an agenda was not listed in announcement.  It will he held at the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.  If you have a chance tune it via their web page.

Veterans meet with Senator Cornyn' Staff

Harlingen, TX
Senator John Cornyn's Regional Office
June 21, 2011

Valley veterans met with Dave Hanke, Military and Veterans Affairs asssitant to Senator John Cornyn, Lt. Maxwell Keith, assistant to Hanke and Ana Maria Garcia, regional coordinator for Senator John Cornyn via satellite phone confernce.  The issues discussed were SB 396 which is pending before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill was discussed at the Committee on June 8th and is scheduled to be discussed again on June 29th.  Hanke provided information to the veterans as to where to direct their letter writing campaign.  Also, he mentioned that he needed up to date fact and figures from the local VA on the services of veterans.
There was a good question and anwere discussion and veterans were glad that Hanke provided truthful and sound answers to their questions.  He told them that we still had a fight on our hands and that the VA was not necessarily on our side. We needed to conquer that belief and change their mind as to the need of a VA hospital for south Texass.

HB 2055 as it relates to the ammendment of Congressman Cuellar's HB 1318 was also discussed,  But Hanke stated that Cuellar or his staff would be the ones to ask.  He commanded Cuellar for his actions and movement of his bill.

 Pablo Flores, Rey Molano, Leo Hinojosa, Treto Garza, Adelarido Cantu, Joe Ibarra, Pedro Juarez, Antonio Carmona, Tony Arenas, Rey Oropez, Mike Escobedo.

 Pablo Flores, Adelaido Cantu, Joe ibarra, Antonio Carmona, Mike Escobedo, Rey Oropez, Rey Molano, Manuel Pena, Hortencia Pena Maria Carmona, Treto

Treto Garza, Ruben Cantu, Adelaido Cantu, Pedro Juarez, Georgios Moros, Antonio Cantu, Tony Arenas Rey Oropez and Mike Escobedo

CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR: ‘SOUTH TEXAS VETERANS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAVING FULL-SERVICE VA HOSPITAL’ – My Harlingen News

CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR: ‘SOUTH TEXAS VETERANS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAVING FULL-SERVICE VA HOSPITAL’ – My Harlingen News

Senate Bill 396 Full Service Medical Center for South Texas

"Our service members should never have to come home from fighting a war only to fight to get the benefits and care that they deserve," said Senator Patty Murray when she was named to the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  She is considered one of the best friends that veterans have in Washington D.C.  She is about making sure that the Veterans Affairs meets its mandate of caring for our Veterans.

It seems like these words were meant and apply to the thousands of veterans of South Texas.  You could say it describes the multitude of problems faced by our servicemen and women encounter when they returned from War.  A prime example is the quest for a Veterans hospital for south Texas that started with WW II veterans. Since then and up until now veteran have been advocating for a full service Veterans Affairs Full Medical Service Center for the area's 110,000 veterans.  The nearest VA hospital is 250 miles away. 

Veterans in south Texas have been ignored by the VA, especially those that participated in the war theaters of Vietnam and Korea.  If any of our veterans have been abandoned it is those that fought in these two skirmishers.  And, south Texas is the home of many veterans of WW II, Korea, and Vietnam.  Older veterans that are now more than ever having problems obtaining their benefits from  the Veterans Affairs.  Many of these veterans resigned themselves from applying for benefits out of frustration of the many tactics used by VA to discouraged the very veterans that they are suppose to serve.  "The deny, deny until they die"  attitude of the VA applies here to the T.  Veterans are dying at an alarming rate, many will never enjoy those benefits.  President Lincoln is probably turning in his grave.

Senator Patty Murray, your constituents have a great representative for the state of Washington.  And as Chair of the Vet/Aff Comm. we hope that the rest of America enjoys your dedication to the veterans.  Please help us with SB 396.  It is our bill for our Senator allowed us to participate in the wording of the contents of the bill.  Simple and to the point.

To our veterans in south Texas, let us hope that Chairwoman remembers these very words when she hears of Senate Bill 396.  SB 396 is the furthest that south Texas veterans have advanced in their fight for a VA hospital.  Veterans have been fighting for a VA hospital since our servicemen returned from World War II.  Other war veterans followed suit.  And are still at it.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel.  Chairwoman Murray is a great position to help veterans of south Texas by allowing SB 396 to be placed on her agenda for discussion and a vote.  It would be great if Senator John Cornyn would be allowed to testify on behalf of his bill.

Bill Text - 112th Congress (2011-2012) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Bill Text - 112th Congress (2011-2012) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Hearings

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Hearings

senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing

Subject: Your Email to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To: "tretogarza@yahoo.com" <tretogarza@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 3:24 PM

Dear Mr. Garza:

Thank you for contacting the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The agenda for the Committee's June 29th mark up has not yet been decided.  

You may be interested to know that S. 396, the proposed "Meeting the Inpatient Health Care Needs of Far South Texas Veterans Act of 2011," is among the many bills that the Committee will hear testimony on tomorrow, June 8th.  You may watch that hearing through the Committee's website at www.veterans.senate.gov . 

Sincerely,

Jennifer McCarthy
Committee on Veterans' Affairs