Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Open Letter to Texas Democratic Congressional members on redistricting
Open Letter to Congress members of Texas Democratic Congressional Representatives Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Gene Green (TX-29), Lloyd Doggett (TX-25), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), Silvestre Reyes (TX-16), Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), and Al Green (TX-09).
You showed concern in a letter about the lack of Hispanics being considered in the new redistricting map. Well, Congress members, how do you think that we veterans of south Texas feel when we are annually denied a VA hospital to the large numbers of veterans in south Texas. Is it because we are pre-dominantly Hispanic? Do we need 50%+ hispanic members in Congress in order for us to get a VA hospital.
Veterans have been told by some of you and other members of Congress not to play the race card because it will turn off many members. Well, their "on" light has never been turned on. So what do we do to turn them on?
Just about everyone in south Texas feels that a VA hospital for our veterans is long overdue and is definitely needed. So, why are veterans denied one. Even in solemn memorial services this past Memorial Day, speakers ventured into the delicate issue; reminding those attending that a VA hospital is needed for those veterans that did make it back. It is common talk about town, and yet, the voices of the ex-servicemen and women, our veterans are ignored north of the imaginary line between Corpus Christi and Laredo. Even when our winter Texan comrades return, we are still pre-dominately Hispanic.
Would some of you show your concern and co-sponsor either HB 837 or 1318? Would some of you approach your colleagues at the House Veterans Affairs Committee and ask them to bring these bills before their agenda and vote on them?And remember that veterans down here in south Texas served proudly in the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard as Americans. Some gave some, others gave all for the same Colors and Freedoms that many Americans enjoy.
It is time for south Texas to have a VA hospital or in the words of Congressman Cuellar, a Full Service Medical Center.
Thank you,
Arturo Treto Garza-USMC
Jose A. Ibarra-U.S. Army Retired
Antonio Tony Arenas U.S. Air Force
Ruben Cordova-U.S. Navy
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Memorial Day event May 31, 2011-Harlingen
Veterans met with Kevin Kane, Military & Veterans Assistant to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison via tele-conference set up by Julian Alvarez, Hutchison's local coordinator. Meeting was held at the Senator's Harlingen office on Wednesay June 1, 2011. Present were Ruben Cantu, Jimmy Krummel, Joe Ibarra, Adelaido Cantu, Treto Garza, Pete Prax Garza (DAV 121 Commander), Antonio Carmona, and Pablo Flores. The meeting centered around what needs to be done to move SB 396 in Congress. SB 396 calls for the expansion of the present VA Surgical Center in Harlingen to a Full Service Medical Center.
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