"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.
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