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.

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.

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.