Once again the Valley enjoys another Patriotic Day--The Fourth of July, Independence Day. Memorial Day celebrations are still fresh in our mind. And plans are being made to celebrate Veterans Day.
In south Texas there are over 110,000 veterans in an area that encompasses from Corpus Christi toward Laredo and everything south of that imaginary line. Among them are many veterans war veterans. Men and women who have stood tall and defended our great nation. All should join the brotherhood of Armed Forces veterans in an effort to bring a Full Medical Service Center to the valley.
Much has been done in the past five years that many feel that a VA hospital is within reach. But, we need a more agressive efforts now that we know where to go. And, that is straight to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and their new Strategic Capital Investment Plan 2012. This plan implemented last year will serve as a blue print for all VA future medical construction. We need to let him know that we need a VA hospial in south Texas and thata the opportunity lets itself by expanding the new VA Surgical Center in Harlingen. This will be the most cost effective route to take.
You can help these proud Heroes. By joining them in their efforts.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
VA hospital for South Texas
January 24, 2012
Harlingen, TX
@ Regional Office of Senator John Cornyn
Veterans met with Ana Maria Garcia, South Texas Regional Director & Community Outreach Advisor for Senator John Cornyn.at the Senator's Harlingen office to discuss the Veterans Affairs Strategic Capital Investment Plan (SCIP) and what it means to south Texas veterans. SCIP has been formed to address the health care needs of veterans for the next ten years. The SCIP plan mentions the Surgical and Ambulatory Medical Center in Harlingen, TX. Veterans are asking the senator's office to find out if the Harlingen Surgical Center will on the priority list of proyects to be addressed. The SCIP was made possible with the passing of Public Law No. 112-74 on December 23, 2011. This is the end result of the Military & Veterans Affairs and Other Related Agencies Construction Appropriations Bill 2055. Congressman Henry Cuellar had attached his bill (HB 1318), which calls for the expansion of the South Texas Surgical Center into a Full Medical Services Center, to this legislation in June 2011. Veterans are indeed one step closer to reaching their goal.
"It is not a done deal" states Joe Ibarra, "but at least we know where to concentrate our efforts and the target is Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. According to Lawrence A. Biro, Network Director for VISN 17, it will be up to the Secretary to decide whether he should submit a plan for expansion. At the moment he awaits instructions. However he did mention that there was no one working on a plan right now.
Pete Garza, Commander of DAV Chapter 121 added "that a lot of work needs to be done to keep up the progress made on the VA hospital. We need to move forward on this, not backwards." Ana Garcia told the veterans that she would relay their concerns to the Senator's Washington DC's office of Military & Veterans Affairs person, Dave Hanke. She listen to other suggestions presented to her at the meeting. She told the veterans that they must continue their efforts, that too much work has been done. The Senator supports your efforts.
Pete Garza, Treto Garza, Ana Garcia, Joe Ibarra
L-R Pete Garza, Irene T. Garza, Ana Maria Garcia, Joe Ibarra
Present at the meeting with Ana Maria Garcia, were Joe Ibarra, (Ret. Army War Veteran), Pete Prax Garza (USMC), Arturo Treto Garza, (USMC) and Irene T. Garza.
Harlingen, TX
@ Regional Office of Senator John Cornyn
Veterans met with Ana Maria Garcia, South Texas Regional Director & Community Outreach Advisor for Senator John Cornyn.at the Senator's Harlingen office to discuss the Veterans Affairs Strategic Capital Investment Plan (SCIP) and what it means to south Texas veterans. SCIP has been formed to address the health care needs of veterans for the next ten years. The SCIP plan mentions the Surgical and Ambulatory Medical Center in Harlingen, TX. Veterans are asking the senator's office to find out if the Harlingen Surgical Center will on the priority list of proyects to be addressed. The SCIP was made possible with the passing of Public Law No. 112-74 on December 23, 2011. This is the end result of the Military & Veterans Affairs and Other Related Agencies Construction Appropriations Bill 2055. Congressman Henry Cuellar had attached his bill (HB 1318), which calls for the expansion of the South Texas Surgical Center into a Full Medical Services Center, to this legislation in June 2011. Veterans are indeed one step closer to reaching their goal.
"It is not a done deal" states Joe Ibarra, "but at least we know where to concentrate our efforts and the target is Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. According to Lawrence A. Biro, Network Director for VISN 17, it will be up to the Secretary to decide whether he should submit a plan for expansion. At the moment he awaits instructions. However he did mention that there was no one working on a plan right now.
Pete Garza, Commander of DAV Chapter 121 added "that a lot of work needs to be done to keep up the progress made on the VA hospital. We need to move forward on this, not backwards." Ana Garcia told the veterans that she would relay their concerns to the Senator's Washington DC's office of Military & Veterans Affairs person, Dave Hanke. She listen to other suggestions presented to her at the meeting. She told the veterans that they must continue their efforts, that too much work has been done. The Senator supports your efforts.
Present at the meeting with Ana Maria Garcia, were Joe Ibarra, (Ret. Army War Veteran), Pete Prax Garza (USMC), Arturo Treto Garza, (USMC) and Irene T. Garza.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Public Law 112-94 the Strategic Capital Investment Plan of 2012
During the closing of the year, veterans received good news from Washington DC. On December 23, 2011, President Barack Obama signed Public Law No. 112-94. This made House Bill 2055 law. Veterans are reminded that Congressman Henry Cuellar attached his HB 1318 to this bill back in June 2011. The title of 2055 was the Military &Veterans Affaris and Other Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
Cuellar's bill was not included per se in the final outcome of the bill, but what occurred was that the House passed the Bill by a 411-5 vote, Part of the vote accepted the House Committee Report presented at the hearing. 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."
This language allows for the Veterans Affairs Strategic Capital Investment Plan to address the expansion of the Surgical Center in Harlingen. The Second Part of the Strategic Capital Investment Plan (SCIP) of 2012 mentions the Harlingen Clinic in the plan. You may find it on pages 8.3-239 to 83-246. It is now up to the Veterans Affairs to decide what is to be done in the future on our request. According to Lawrence Biro, District Director of VISN, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki will be the person that will decide what is to be done.
Veterans should start directing their efforts toward Secretary Shinseki and his Deputy Director W. Scott Gould. These two individuals will play a very important role on SPIC. It is up to veterans to keep the issue alive at the VA. Now that the target has been identified, all efforts need to go to convincing Shinseki and Scott of the need to expand the Harlingen VA Surgical Center into a Full Service Medical Center.
Cuellar's bill was not included per se in the final outcome of the bill, but what occurred was that the House passed the Bill by a 411-5 vote, Part of the vote accepted the House Committee Report presented at the hearing. 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."
This language allows for the Veterans Affairs Strategic Capital Investment Plan to address the expansion of the Surgical Center in Harlingen. The Second Part of the Strategic Capital Investment Plan (SCIP) of 2012 mentions the Harlingen Clinic in the plan. You may find it on pages 8.3-239 to 83-246. It is now up to the Veterans Affairs to decide what is to be done in the future on our request. According to Lawrence Biro, District Director of VISN, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki will be the person that will decide what is to be done.
Veterans should start directing their efforts toward Secretary Shinseki and his Deputy Director W. Scott Gould. These two individuals will play a very important role on SPIC. It is up to veterans to keep the issue alive at the VA. Now that the target has been identified, all efforts need to go to convincing Shinseki and Scott of the need to expand the Harlingen VA Surgical Center into a Full Service Medical Center.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
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. 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.
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.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
VA hospital issue still moving forward
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, 2011 by 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..
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, 2011 by 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..
VA amendment to 2055
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, 2011 by 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..
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, 2011 by 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..
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Veterans Affairs Hospital for South Texas Nov. 2011
Here we go again. Senator John Cornyn agreed to attach his bill for a Full Medical Service Center at the Harlingen Veterans Affairs Surgical Center to the National Defense Authorization. He has obtained co-sponsorship from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. We hope that these efforts prove successful.
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.
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.
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