Ever since our Rio Grande Valley heroes returned from World War II and became veterans, they have been asking the government for a Veterans Administration hospital for the area.
When the Korean Conflict ended, those veterans joined their comrades from WW II. Then came Vietnam and when that “police action” ended, those veterans joined their fellow comrades of WW II and Korea. Veterans wrote, signed petitions, and visited their Congressmen. All to no avail.
Then came lesser skirmishes like Grenada, Panama, and Bosnia. Then came Desert Storm and now the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. The veterans from these battles and wars have joined with older veterans in demanding a VA hospital for the Valley. Other veterans who did not actually participate in a war zone have joined the effort, since they too qualify for VA health services. And, still no full service medical center.
Locally, the number of veterans in South Texas has risen sharply. It is now up to 118,630. Yet only about 30 percent of these veterans are registered with the VA. This is pertinent when referencing the statement above by Secretary Shinseki. He said: “Veterans are our sole reason for existence and our number one priority-bar none.” Well, it seems like that statement does not apply to South Texas. It should don't you think?
Ever since our Rio Grande Valley heroes returned from World War II and became veterans, they have been asking the government for a Veterans Administration hospital for the area.
When the Korean Conflict ended, those veterans joined their comrades from WW II. Then came Vietnam and when that “police action” ended, those veterans joined their fellow comrades of WW II and Korea. Veterans wrote, signed petitions, and visited their Congressmen. All to no avail.
Then came lesser skirmishes like Grenada, Panama, and Bosnia. Then came Desert Storm and now the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. The veterans from these battles and wars have joined with older veterans in demanding a VA hospital for the Valley. Other veterans who did not actually participate in a war zone have joined the effort, since they too qualify for VA health services. And, still no full service medical center.
Locally, the number of veterans in South Texas has risen sharply. It is now up to 118,630. Yet only about 30 percent of these veterans are registered with the VA. This is pertinent when referencing the statement above by Secretary Shinseki. He said: “Veterans are our sole reason for existence and our number one priority-bar none.” Well, it seems like that statement does not apply to South Texas. It should don't you think?
Thursday, December 23, 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS
TO ALL WHO SHALL VISIT THIS BLOG:
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BE TOGETHER.
AND REMEMBER THOSE IN HARMS WAY SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY.
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BE TOGETHER.
AND REMEMBER THOSE IN HARMS WAY SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley
The monthly meeting for the Veterans Alliance is scheduled for Monday December 13, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. Members are asked to make every effort to attend. This might be the last meeting for this year. See you there.
Veterans Update
December 10, 2010
Its has been over a month since the November elections. Congressman Solomon Ortiz was defeated by Republican Blake Farenthold. Congressman-elect Farenthold has gone to DC for orientation and is now getting ready to move in so that he will be ready to conduct business come January 1st 2011 and the start of the new session.
His actions are now very important to Rio Grande Valley veterans because at the present all our efforts have been directed toward having the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Services System flagship hospital be located at the new Harlingen VA clinic expansion to be called the Ambulatory and Surgical Center. It is important that we work with our new Congressional representative because any legislation to get funding or approval for a 24/7 emergency and inpatient health care facility at the new site will have to go through him. This is what is called "protocol". In order for legislation to be introduced the elected Congressperson of the Congressional district has the right to file in his district. If other Congressmen from a neighboring district wants to file, he must follow protocol and inform the district elected congressman. In this case, Congressional District 27, Farenthold is the designated person. Others can cosponsor the bill and/or jointly filed, but due to "protocol" the legislation will need the blessing (approval) of the District 27 Congressman. In the past, Solomon Ortiz would file the bill and Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Ruben Hinojosa would co sponsor the bill in its intitial filing.
At the Senate level, either of the Senators can file the sister bill in the Senate. As of this writing, Senator Cornyn has been the one that initiates legislation in the Senate. His office is ready to assist us in filing a bill.
In this regard, we have to develop the language so that he knows what is it that we need. We have a couple of week and should start working on it.
Veterans have already riched out to Congressman-elect Farenthold for support and help. He has indicated that he is ready to help veterans.
Veterans should call and/or join the Veterans Alliance. Do so.
Its has been over a month since the November elections. Congressman Solomon Ortiz was defeated by Republican Blake Farenthold. Congressman-elect Farenthold has gone to DC for orientation and is now getting ready to move in so that he will be ready to conduct business come January 1st 2011 and the start of the new session.
His actions are now very important to Rio Grande Valley veterans because at the present all our efforts have been directed toward having the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Services System flagship hospital be located at the new Harlingen VA clinic expansion to be called the Ambulatory and Surgical Center. It is important that we work with our new Congressional representative because any legislation to get funding or approval for a 24/7 emergency and inpatient health care facility at the new site will have to go through him. This is what is called "protocol". In order for legislation to be introduced the elected Congressperson of the Congressional district has the right to file in his district. If other Congressmen from a neighboring district wants to file, he must follow protocol and inform the district elected congressman. In this case, Congressional District 27, Farenthold is the designated person. Others can cosponsor the bill and/or jointly filed, but due to "protocol" the legislation will need the blessing (approval) of the District 27 Congressman. In the past, Solomon Ortiz would file the bill and Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Ruben Hinojosa would co sponsor the bill in its intitial filing.
At the Senate level, either of the Senators can file the sister bill in the Senate. As of this writing, Senator Cornyn has been the one that initiates legislation in the Senate. His office is ready to assist us in filing a bill.
In this regard, we have to develop the language so that he knows what is it that we need. We have a couple of week and should start working on it.
Veterans have already riched out to Congressman-elect Farenthold for support and help. He has indicated that he is ready to help veterans.
Veterans should call and/or join the Veterans Alliance. Do so.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Quest for a VA Hospital for Valley
Garza: Valley veterans' fight has an official name - Phase II
By Arturo 'Treto' Garza
HARLINGEN, Oct. 3 - It appears that Congressman Henry Cuellar really is a true friend of the veteran.
On Saturday at a press conference at the Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic he again showed his commitment to the construction and maintenance of a VA hospital for deep south Texas.
In April, he, along with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, had stated that the Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic was going to be expanded into a Surgical Center and that it would be sort of like a down payment toward the hospital. Prior to that, at the announcement of the Booz Allen Hamilton study, Cuellar told veterans not to get bogged down in semantics. As long as the VA provided full medical care to include emergency and inpatient care, it did not matter what the building was called. It could be called a Medical Center, a hospital, etc. Fact of the matter what mattered was full medical care for the veterans.
Well, at the press conference he explained to veterans that plans are going accordingly. He made public that Phase I is about to be completed with the grand opening of the new Surgical Center on January 18, 2011, and now the work to complete Phase II begins.
Cuellar and Congressmen Rubén Hinojosa and Solomon Ortiz told the veterans "the end goal is a Veterans hospital that will provide emergency and inpatient health care." They added that that is what they will be working now, Phase II, and that they understood the frustration on part of the veterans and made it clear that veterans must continue doing what they are doing. That is applying pressure and constantly keeping the issue alive.
Veterans applauded and by the sound of their loud applause and body language they more or less sent the message to the congressmen that they were ready to continue the battle. The congressmen also acknowledged the full cooperation of Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn. They said it was a united effort and that Washington knows of our plight because of it. "Continue doing what you are doing, all that hard work is paying off" was the message that veterans received.
The press conference was called to announce the creation of the VA Texas Valley and Coastal Bend Health Care Services System which became autonomous of the South Texas Health Care System as of October 1, 2010. The new system will be independent of the San Antonio-based system. It will have its own budget, director, and will be competing for funds against other health care systems in the Texas/Oklahoma area. Up until now, most of the VA federal funds stayed in San Antonio.
The new health care system will cover a 20-county area from Laredo east toward Corpus Christi and everything south of that imaginary line. It has plans to expand the clinics in Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi. Contracts and bidding will start soon on those projects. It will be a busy year for the new health care system.
The Congressmen showed appreciation for the help being provided by Jeff Milligan, the director of the VA Texas Valley and Coastal Bend Health Care Services System. they said he was a capable administrator and right for the job at hand. Milligan has been working closely with veteran leaders and has kept them informed of the progress being made at the clinic. He has an open door policy and has been very aggressive in recruiting new veterans to enroll in the system. Numbers, numbers, numbers. That is what the VA in Washington looks at and Milligan constantly reminds veterans of this fact. At the press conference he stated that this year's annual budget for the system was $147 million. He told the congressmen that projections are that the new system would add about $39 million annually to the local economy.
So what does all this mean to veterans? In a sense it seems like a well thought out plan. Something that should have been revealed before to veterans instead of keeping them out of the loop. The Veterans Alliance has up to now, being trying to figure out the VA and the congressional delegation. It appears that they read them right if indeed such a plan existed. The Veterans Alliance voted to concentrate on Harlingen being the home of the flagship hospital for the new system. They made that known earlier this year and have gathered support from Harlingen as well as from other cities. Senator Cornyn was the one that suggested this "common sense" approach to solving the issue. The Veterans Alliance pushed for and obtained the support of the Texas Legislature to support and partner with the VA to make a VA hospital for the Valley a reality. And, at the press conference, Congressman Hinojosa repeated what veterans have been saying for the past two years that "there is a light at the end of the tunnel." Let us hope that that rings true.
On the other hand, maybe our congressional delegation read the veterans right and followed our lead. What is important is that veterans not give up on their pressure to continue demanding a VA hospital. It is needed and long overdue. At the press conference, Irene T. Garza made sure that each of the Congressmen received a newspaper article dated October 12, 1987, which states how long the veterans have been fighting this issue. She made them promise that they would read it. Congressman Cuellar looked at it and was surprised to see how long a battle it has been. Let’s hope that all of them read it and disseminate it to their colleagues. And, we have to be careful because Hinojosa thinks that we will be satisfied with ten beds. Ten beds will put us back to nada. The Booz Allen Hamilton study called for a 15-bed need and we did not agree at all with that recommendation. We are desperate, but not that desperate. We want a decent inpatient facility with enough beds to meet the need that is been shown with the new facts and numbers coming out through the hospital contracts. (Ironically that article appeared on "El dia de la Raza" back then.)
There are problems at the new system. They may be attributed to growing pains. Veterans should understand that our health care is improving a lot. Veterans must seek their medical health care from the Veterans Affairs. They must understand that the Veterans Affairs exists "to take care of the veteran, his widow and child." It is the legal duty of the Veterans Affairs to provide for a good quality of life for veterans. IT IS A MANDATE from Congress.
Whether it is political speak or whatever, the words sound pretty good. And I believe Congressman Cuellar. He has yet to let us down. He is the key to our success.
Arturo ‘Treto’ Garza is co-chair of the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley. A Vietnam War veteran and commentator on veterans' issues, Garza is a resident of Harlingen, Texas. His Veterans Voice column appears weekly in the Rio Grande Guardian.
By Arturo 'Treto' Garza
HARLINGEN, Oct. 3 - It appears that Congressman Henry Cuellar really is a true friend of the veteran.
On Saturday at a press conference at the Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic he again showed his commitment to the construction and maintenance of a VA hospital for deep south Texas.
In April, he, along with U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, had stated that the Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic was going to be expanded into a Surgical Center and that it would be sort of like a down payment toward the hospital. Prior to that, at the announcement of the Booz Allen Hamilton study, Cuellar told veterans not to get bogged down in semantics. As long as the VA provided full medical care to include emergency and inpatient care, it did not matter what the building was called. It could be called a Medical Center, a hospital, etc. Fact of the matter what mattered was full medical care for the veterans.
Well, at the press conference he explained to veterans that plans are going accordingly. He made public that Phase I is about to be completed with the grand opening of the new Surgical Center on January 18, 2011, and now the work to complete Phase II begins.
Cuellar and Congressmen Rubén Hinojosa and Solomon Ortiz told the veterans "the end goal is a Veterans hospital that will provide emergency and inpatient health care." They added that that is what they will be working now, Phase II, and that they understood the frustration on part of the veterans and made it clear that veterans must continue doing what they are doing. That is applying pressure and constantly keeping the issue alive.
Veterans applauded and by the sound of their loud applause and body language they more or less sent the message to the congressmen that they were ready to continue the battle. The congressmen also acknowledged the full cooperation of Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn. They said it was a united effort and that Washington knows of our plight because of it. "Continue doing what you are doing, all that hard work is paying off" was the message that veterans received.
The press conference was called to announce the creation of the VA Texas Valley and Coastal Bend Health Care Services System which became autonomous of the South Texas Health Care System as of October 1, 2010. The new system will be independent of the San Antonio-based system. It will have its own budget, director, and will be competing for funds against other health care systems in the Texas/Oklahoma area. Up until now, most of the VA federal funds stayed in San Antonio.
The new health care system will cover a 20-county area from Laredo east toward Corpus Christi and everything south of that imaginary line. It has plans to expand the clinics in Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi. Contracts and bidding will start soon on those projects. It will be a busy year for the new health care system.
The Congressmen showed appreciation for the help being provided by Jeff Milligan, the director of the VA Texas Valley and Coastal Bend Health Care Services System. they said he was a capable administrator and right for the job at hand. Milligan has been working closely with veteran leaders and has kept them informed of the progress being made at the clinic. He has an open door policy and has been very aggressive in recruiting new veterans to enroll in the system. Numbers, numbers, numbers. That is what the VA in Washington looks at and Milligan constantly reminds veterans of this fact. At the press conference he stated that this year's annual budget for the system was $147 million. He told the congressmen that projections are that the new system would add about $39 million annually to the local economy.
So what does all this mean to veterans? In a sense it seems like a well thought out plan. Something that should have been revealed before to veterans instead of keeping them out of the loop. The Veterans Alliance has up to now, being trying to figure out the VA and the congressional delegation. It appears that they read them right if indeed such a plan existed. The Veterans Alliance voted to concentrate on Harlingen being the home of the flagship hospital for the new system. They made that known earlier this year and have gathered support from Harlingen as well as from other cities. Senator Cornyn was the one that suggested this "common sense" approach to solving the issue. The Veterans Alliance pushed for and obtained the support of the Texas Legislature to support and partner with the VA to make a VA hospital for the Valley a reality. And, at the press conference, Congressman Hinojosa repeated what veterans have been saying for the past two years that "there is a light at the end of the tunnel." Let us hope that that rings true.
On the other hand, maybe our congressional delegation read the veterans right and followed our lead. What is important is that veterans not give up on their pressure to continue demanding a VA hospital. It is needed and long overdue. At the press conference, Irene T. Garza made sure that each of the Congressmen received a newspaper article dated October 12, 1987, which states how long the veterans have been fighting this issue. She made them promise that they would read it. Congressman Cuellar looked at it and was surprised to see how long a battle it has been. Let’s hope that all of them read it and disseminate it to their colleagues. And, we have to be careful because Hinojosa thinks that we will be satisfied with ten beds. Ten beds will put us back to nada. The Booz Allen Hamilton study called for a 15-bed need and we did not agree at all with that recommendation. We are desperate, but not that desperate. We want a decent inpatient facility with enough beds to meet the need that is been shown with the new facts and numbers coming out through the hospital contracts. (Ironically that article appeared on "El dia de la Raza" back then.)
There are problems at the new system. They may be attributed to growing pains. Veterans should understand that our health care is improving a lot. Veterans must seek their medical health care from the Veterans Affairs. They must understand that the Veterans Affairs exists "to take care of the veteran, his widow and child." It is the legal duty of the Veterans Affairs to provide for a good quality of life for veterans. IT IS A MANDATE from Congress.
Whether it is political speak or whatever, the words sound pretty good. And I believe Congressman Cuellar. He has yet to let us down. He is the key to our success.
Arturo ‘Treto’ Garza is co-chair of the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley. A Vietnam War veteran and commentator on veterans' issues, Garza is a resident of Harlingen, Texas. His Veterans Voice column appears weekly in the Rio Grande Guardian.
Friday, July 2, 2010
onetogoto: Veterans of America
onetogoto: Veterans of America: "I will be trying to place information on this blog that addresses veterans issues, veteran needs, veteran benefits, and any other topic avai..."
Friday, June 25, 2010
Veterans Summit
The Veterans Summit sponsored by Congressman Solomon Ortiz was held of June 19, 2010 in Brownsville, TX. It was mostly the same thing that occurs in all his summits. One important note that some of the veterans that attended was that Congressman Ortiz was very proud of the fact that he had re-submitted his bill to create a VA hospital for the Valley.
What he forgot to mention is that it is stuck in a sub-committee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. It has not moved since it was filed. It does not appear to be going anywhere. Ortiz has submitted a similar bill all his time in office, but it never gets out of committee. It just stays there and gathers dust.
He should have told the veterans attending of what he is going to do to make the VA hospital for the valley a reality. If he can't do it, he should be square with us and tell it like it is. There is no shame in telling the truth. The shame lies there in when you try to make something out of something that is not there. His bill is there, but is it really.
What he forgot to mention is that it is stuck in a sub-committee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. It has not moved since it was filed. It does not appear to be going anywhere. Ortiz has submitted a similar bill all his time in office, but it never gets out of committee. It just stays there and gathers dust.
He should have told the veterans attending of what he is going to do to make the VA hospital for the valley a reality. If he can't do it, he should be square with us and tell it like it is. There is no shame in telling the truth. The shame lies there in when you try to make something out of something that is not there. His bill is there, but is it really.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
How close are south Texas veterans to a VA hospital?
Veterans in south Texas state that they are getting closer to the end of the tunnel in their quest for a Veterans Affairs hospital for the area. Veterans have been asking for a VA hospital in order to avoid having to travel up to 250 miles north to San Antonio for acute medical care. These trips are dangerous, expensive and a heavy burden on familial relationships. Many veterans require that someone drive them to where the medical care is available. If the veteran is admitted, his loved one is not afforded room and board while he undergoes surgery and/or recuperates from such. All in all veterans identify a myriad of problems with this arrangement. Many World War II and Korean War veterans are burden not only by their service connected injuries but also due to their age. The toll that the body has taken on them from all these trips is inmeasureable.
Veterans leaders have tried many approaches in order to reach their goals. All have failed and its back to the drawing board. Then after a lull in efforts, new veteran leaders pick up the baton and move the cause forward again. It is getting to be a battle of wits. Veterans identify the Veterans Affairs as their number one enemy. They feel that the VA is there to help veterans, not to provide obstacles and barriers to good health care. They feel that the VA hospital is long overdue.
Veterans pushed for a study to determine if there was a need for a VA hospital to serve the over 100,000 veterans in south Texas. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison pushed for the study and was successful in obtaining funds for the study. The study was undertaken by the group Booz Allen Hamilton . Many veterans feel that the wrong numbers were used in determing the need. Veterans feel that the Booz Allen Hamilton organization did a mediocre study just to justify the over $800,000.00 grant award. Today, the study is being challenged and it seems that the Booz Allen Hamilton organization was wrong in the needs and cost estimates. (Veterans have learned that the Booz Allen Hamilton organization is facing controversy in other areas also.)
The study determined that it would be more feasible to contract out medical care to private contractors in the area. They concluded that there was not a need for a VA hospital in the area. This plan was implemented and began in Arpil 2009. Since then, the VA has learned that it is costing far too much. The proyected numbers were terribly underestimated and now its costing the VA millions of dollars more per/month. And the costs seem to be rising. Veterans feel that by the end of the 5 year contract the VA will fork many millions of dollars over the proposed budget. In the meantime, Veterans are still going to San Antonio. The two private medical contractors are not getting paid regularly and they are owed millions. Thus, causing an economical crunch to those hospitals and affecting their services to the general public. All in all, it seems to be that the veterans were right in their call for a full fledged hospital for the area.
A new expanions will come into existence in January 2011 in Harlingen, TX. The Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic (VAOPC) is being expanded into an ambulatory and outpatient surgical center. The new services to be provided are necessary and will improve present medical services, but it will still fall short of the need. With this in mind, veterans are now proposing to the VA that the VAOPC be expanded still further and that emergency and inpatient care be provided and making it in essence a full hospital.
Veterans have found solid backing from their local Congressional delegates and also from their local Texas delegation. Their goal is to bring Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, to south Texas to meet with veterans and local VA officials. Letters have been send jointly by the two US Senators, the three local Congressmen, the TX State Lt. Governor and two local state senators and all the local state representatives to Sec. Shinseki. The letters are similar in their requests. And that is, to come to Texas and meet with veteans and to expand the services at the VAOPC to include emergency and inpatient health care. Senator John Cornyn calls it a "commons sense approach". The state of Texas recently passed legislation to authorize the state to provide monies and resources in the development and maintenance of veterans hospitals in the state. With this new resource and a powerful at that, the veterans hope to convince Sec. Shinseki to partner with the State of Texas so that the state and national governments can work together to solve the issue.
Veterans are meeting and formulating strategy to insure that their strike force is directed at the right target with enough information, support and energies to make this new effort a success.
Veterans leaders have tried many approaches in order to reach their goals. All have failed and its back to the drawing board. Then after a lull in efforts, new veteran leaders pick up the baton and move the cause forward again. It is getting to be a battle of wits. Veterans identify the Veterans Affairs as their number one enemy. They feel that the VA is there to help veterans, not to provide obstacles and barriers to good health care. They feel that the VA hospital is long overdue.
Veterans pushed for a study to determine if there was a need for a VA hospital to serve the over 100,000 veterans in south Texas. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison pushed for the study and was successful in obtaining funds for the study. The study was undertaken by the group Booz Allen Hamilton . Many veterans feel that the wrong numbers were used in determing the need. Veterans feel that the Booz Allen Hamilton organization did a mediocre study just to justify the over $800,000.00 grant award. Today, the study is being challenged and it seems that the Booz Allen Hamilton organization was wrong in the needs and cost estimates. (Veterans have learned that the Booz Allen Hamilton organization is facing controversy in other areas also.)
The study determined that it would be more feasible to contract out medical care to private contractors in the area. They concluded that there was not a need for a VA hospital in the area. This plan was implemented and began in Arpil 2009. Since then, the VA has learned that it is costing far too much. The proyected numbers were terribly underestimated and now its costing the VA millions of dollars more per/month. And the costs seem to be rising. Veterans feel that by the end of the 5 year contract the VA will fork many millions of dollars over the proposed budget. In the meantime, Veterans are still going to San Antonio. The two private medical contractors are not getting paid regularly and they are owed millions. Thus, causing an economical crunch to those hospitals and affecting their services to the general public. All in all, it seems to be that the veterans were right in their call for a full fledged hospital for the area.
A new expanions will come into existence in January 2011 in Harlingen, TX. The Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic (VAOPC) is being expanded into an ambulatory and outpatient surgical center. The new services to be provided are necessary and will improve present medical services, but it will still fall short of the need. With this in mind, veterans are now proposing to the VA that the VAOPC be expanded still further and that emergency and inpatient care be provided and making it in essence a full hospital.
Veterans have found solid backing from their local Congressional delegates and also from their local Texas delegation. Their goal is to bring Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, to south Texas to meet with veterans and local VA officials. Letters have been send jointly by the two US Senators, the three local Congressmen, the TX State Lt. Governor and two local state senators and all the local state representatives to Sec. Shinseki. The letters are similar in their requests. And that is, to come to Texas and meet with veteans and to expand the services at the VAOPC to include emergency and inpatient health care. Senator John Cornyn calls it a "commons sense approach". The state of Texas recently passed legislation to authorize the state to provide monies and resources in the development and maintenance of veterans hospitals in the state. With this new resource and a powerful at that, the veterans hope to convince Sec. Shinseki to partner with the State of Texas so that the state and national governments can work together to solve the issue.
Veterans are meeting and formulating strategy to insure that their strike force is directed at the right target with enough information, support and energies to make this new effort a success.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Target Eric Shinseki
The Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley has been working hard trying to have a Veterans Affairs hospital constructed in south Texas. There are over 100,000 veterans that must travel up to 250 miles to the nearest VA hospital for acute care. Inpatient services are not available at the two outpatient clinics.
Veterans Alliance have launched a letter of support campaign directed at Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki. Veterans are going to national, state and local elected officials and requesting that they send a letter to Sec. Shinseki requesting that he come to south Texas to meet with veterans and address the issue. Also, in that letter, Sec. Shinseki is asked that why doesn't the VA take a common sense approach to the issue by adding emergency and inpatient care services to the present Super Clinic being constructed right now in Harlingen, TX. The VAOPC center in Harlingen is being expanded to a three story building with a 5 floor parking garage area next to the clinic. It is a huge building and veterans think that it can house emergency and inpatient care services. The fact is that present plans do not call for such.
Veterans have been seeking a VA hospital for about three decades and they have not been helped. Congressman Solomon Ortiz has filed a bill in the House of Representatives for the construction of a VA full fledged hospital for the south Texas area. He has done this in just about every session of Congress since he was elected to office in 1988. The fact is that the bill is filed but it never makes it out of committee. It remains dormant for the entire session. The bill is read and assigned to the House Veteran Affairs Committee, who in turn sends it to subcommittee on Veterans Health. There is just gathers dust. During the 110Th session the bill garnered 15 cosponsors. The most that it had done before. The reason was that veterans traveled to Washington DC when Ortiz was testifying on the bill. Ortiz introduced the veterans that were in the gallery. Media coverage was good. The Chairman of the Veterans Committee, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) traveled to south Texas to meet with veterans and was very optimistic. He was follow by Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. He too was optimistic and even told the veterans that the money was available and it would not be a problem. That was then. The Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), the ranking member of the House Veterans Committee traveled to the valley of south Texas. He told the veterans that the VA was no longer constructing stand alone VA hospitals. He described them as relics, dinosaurs, thing of the past. But when pressed by some veterans he indicated that maybe the VA would look at the request if there was land available. A Texas State Representative was in the audience he told Rep. Buyer that the state could provide land if needed. He however continued on with his speech and question and answer session. During the presidential campaign, Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy came to south Texas and all supported the idea of a VA hospital for the thousands of veterans. Sen. Obama came down on three occasions and he repeated the promise. Kerry, Clinton and Obama all signed on a cosponsors of a bill submitted by Texas Senator John Cornyn requesting the construction of a VA hospital in South Texas.
Last year the Veterans helped push Proposition 8 through the Texas legislature. Prop 8 would allow the state of Texas to provide monies and other resources to construct and maintain veterans hospital in the state. It was placed before the voters and the voters approved it overwhelmingly with 86% to those voting in favor. The VA and the State of Texas can partner and solve the problem. That is if they want to solve the problem.
Which brings veterans to their new strategy. At this posting, Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison have signed a joint letter to Sec. Shinseki. US Congressmen Ruben Hinojosa, Henry Cuellar and Solomon Ortiz have also forwarded a joint letter. At the state level, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and State Senators Eddie Lucio, Jr. and Juan Jesus Hinojosa have also signed a joint letter to Sec. Shinseki. The eight local state legislators have all agreed to send a joint letter also. That is being prepared right now. The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville has also indicated that he will write a similar letter. The cities of Harlingen, Pharr and Mercedes are also on board. Other local cities will be approached.
Veterans have also worked with state legislators to work towards a medical school in the area. This was done in part because the VA had a requirement that a VA hospital be adjacent or close to a medical school. The State of Texas passed legislation to construct and maintain a medical school under the University of Texas Health Science Center in Harlingen, TX. The site will be in the same area as medical centers and medical providers offices. Land has been made available for both the medical school as well as the VA surgery center.
Veterans have agreed that the Harlingen site be the site of the flagship VA hospital for the newly created TX Valley Coastal Bend Health Services District that has been recently created to provide health services for the area by the VA.
All is in place. Veterans and their supporters have done all they can to satisfy the VA. It is in their hands now.
But veterans do not want to just say that its at the VA hands now. They will continue with the momentum and keep forwarding the VA requests for a VA hospital. The money is there, the land is there and most important the need is there and it is a great need that has to be solved.
Enough is enough, Veterans are now demanding a VA hospital for the area. No more band-aid types of gestures from our government.
Veterans Alliance have launched a letter of support campaign directed at Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki. Veterans are going to national, state and local elected officials and requesting that they send a letter to Sec. Shinseki requesting that he come to south Texas to meet with veterans and address the issue. Also, in that letter, Sec. Shinseki is asked that why doesn't the VA take a common sense approach to the issue by adding emergency and inpatient care services to the present Super Clinic being constructed right now in Harlingen, TX. The VAOPC center in Harlingen is being expanded to a three story building with a 5 floor parking garage area next to the clinic. It is a huge building and veterans think that it can house emergency and inpatient care services. The fact is that present plans do not call for such.
Veterans have been seeking a VA hospital for about three decades and they have not been helped. Congressman Solomon Ortiz has filed a bill in the House of Representatives for the construction of a VA full fledged hospital for the south Texas area. He has done this in just about every session of Congress since he was elected to office in 1988. The fact is that the bill is filed but it never makes it out of committee. It remains dormant for the entire session. The bill is read and assigned to the House Veteran Affairs Committee, who in turn sends it to subcommittee on Veterans Health. There is just gathers dust. During the 110Th session the bill garnered 15 cosponsors. The most that it had done before. The reason was that veterans traveled to Washington DC when Ortiz was testifying on the bill. Ortiz introduced the veterans that were in the gallery. Media coverage was good. The Chairman of the Veterans Committee, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) traveled to south Texas to meet with veterans and was very optimistic. He was follow by Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. He too was optimistic and even told the veterans that the money was available and it would not be a problem. That was then. The Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), the ranking member of the House Veterans Committee traveled to the valley of south Texas. He told the veterans that the VA was no longer constructing stand alone VA hospitals. He described them as relics, dinosaurs, thing of the past. But when pressed by some veterans he indicated that maybe the VA would look at the request if there was land available. A Texas State Representative was in the audience he told Rep. Buyer that the state could provide land if needed. He however continued on with his speech and question and answer session. During the presidential campaign, Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy came to south Texas and all supported the idea of a VA hospital for the thousands of veterans. Sen. Obama came down on three occasions and he repeated the promise. Kerry, Clinton and Obama all signed on a cosponsors of a bill submitted by Texas Senator John Cornyn requesting the construction of a VA hospital in South Texas.
Last year the Veterans helped push Proposition 8 through the Texas legislature. Prop 8 would allow the state of Texas to provide monies and other resources to construct and maintain veterans hospital in the state. It was placed before the voters and the voters approved it overwhelmingly with 86% to those voting in favor. The VA and the State of Texas can partner and solve the problem. That is if they want to solve the problem.
Which brings veterans to their new strategy. At this posting, Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison have signed a joint letter to Sec. Shinseki. US Congressmen Ruben Hinojosa, Henry Cuellar and Solomon Ortiz have also forwarded a joint letter. At the state level, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and State Senators Eddie Lucio, Jr. and Juan Jesus Hinojosa have also signed a joint letter to Sec. Shinseki. The eight local state legislators have all agreed to send a joint letter also. That is being prepared right now. The Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville has also indicated that he will write a similar letter. The cities of Harlingen, Pharr and Mercedes are also on board. Other local cities will be approached.
Veterans have also worked with state legislators to work towards a medical school in the area. This was done in part because the VA had a requirement that a VA hospital be adjacent or close to a medical school. The State of Texas passed legislation to construct and maintain a medical school under the University of Texas Health Science Center in Harlingen, TX. The site will be in the same area as medical centers and medical providers offices. Land has been made available for both the medical school as well as the VA surgery center.
Veterans have agreed that the Harlingen site be the site of the flagship VA hospital for the newly created TX Valley Coastal Bend Health Services District that has been recently created to provide health services for the area by the VA.
All is in place. Veterans and their supporters have done all they can to satisfy the VA. It is in their hands now.
But veterans do not want to just say that its at the VA hands now. They will continue with the momentum and keep forwarding the VA requests for a VA hospital. The money is there, the land is there and most important the need is there and it is a great need that has to be solved.
Enough is enough, Veterans are now demanding a VA hospital for the area. No more band-aid types of gestures from our government.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
RIO GRANDE VALLEY VETS LISTEN UP!!!
Veterans in the Rio Grande Valley are one step closer to getting a full-fledged VA hospital for the valley. The Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley has been very active these past few months and are setting their work agenda for the next Texas Legislative session. On February 1, 2010, they met with State Senators Juan Jesus Hinojosa, Eddie Lucio, Jr. and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst in Edinburg, TX. The meeting revolved around the issue of how can the newly passed law created by Propostion 8 which was passsed overwhelmingly by Texas Voters in November of last year can be used to make the local VA hospital a reality. The new law allows for the state of Texas to provide monies, land and other resources for the construction and maintenance of veterans hospitals throughout the state. This proposition was proposed by the Valley delegation in Austin. The Veterans Affairs has been telling veterans that there is no money. That new full-fledged stand alone hospitals are not being constructed. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the ranking Republican on the House Veterans Affairs Committee calls them "relics", a thing of the past. Yet, the VA continues to approved hospitals in other sections of the United States. He also challenged veterans to come up with land and then they would think about it.
The Veterans Alliance called for a meeting with all of the valley legislators to the Texas house. They met with them on February 22, 2010. Four of the current six were present, the other two send a representative. At that meeting the legislators asked the veterans what they needed. The discussion concerned the construction of a VA full-fledged hospital for the valley and how could Proposition 8 be used. The legislators wanted to know if there were committments from local enitites regarding land and funds. How much money was it going to take, how much land and where would it be located at? Representative Rene Oliveira who will head a committee on budget told the veterans that Texas was going through an economic crunch and that just about everybody was going to be asking for funds next year when the legislature meets. He told those present that it was not going to be an easy task. But for them not to give up and go forward with their plans. If we did not get it, they would present legisaltion to insure that the request would be first for consideration on the next session. All four, Rep. Veronica Gonzales, Aaron Pena, Jr. Armando Mando Martinez and Rene Oliveira committed themselves to work together to make a VA hospital for the valley a realty. Rep. Martinez inform veterans that he was looking at two different sources for funds and would file through them.
On March 13, 2010, the Veterans Alliance met with the Most Reverend Bishop Daniel Flores of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville. The meeting was to welcome the new Bishop who was recently selected by the Pope to take over the Diocese due to Bishop Pena's retirement. The Veterans also asked for the Catholic Diocese's continued support for a Veterans Affairs hospital for the valley. He agreed, but he was concerned if there were going to be problems once the site was selected. He felt that different localities might want it in their town. The Veterans Alliance informed him that the problem had been addressed at a meeting and they had agreed to pursue with Harlingen as the site because the VA has already invested monies there. Besides it is the home of the Regional Academic Health Center and the new proposed Texas Unitversity Health Science Center (medical school). He is ready to do what we think is needed and how he can express his support.
On April 7, 2010 the Veterans Alliance went before the city of Harlingen City Commssioners Court and were able to obtain a unanimous vote in favor of a VA hospital for the valley using Prop 8 in pasrtnership with the VA, and to commit land if needed. They also agreed to help by using their legislative agenda committee to help lobby in Washington DC and Austin. The veterans were elated on the results of the meeting. One of the commssioners even commented that another solution would be to exapnd the present expansion of the new surgical center to a full-fledged hospital.
Veterans are now working on ideas to present to all these persons that are willing to help. Meetings with city, legislators, and others are planned to keep the momentum.
Listen Up Veterans, we are getting closer to our goal of getting a much needed VA hospital to the valley, but all Veterans must step up and help. Either by becoming actively involved in the Alliance and/or continue attending public meetings.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Veterans in the Rio Grande Valley are one step closer to getting a full-fledged VA hospital for the valley. The Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley has been very active these past few months and are setting their work agenda for the next Texas Legislative session. On February 1, 2010, they met with State Senators Juan Jesus Hinojosa, Eddie Lucio, Jr. and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst in Edinburg, TX. The meeting revolved around the issue of how can the newly passed law created by Propostion 8 which was passsed overwhelmingly by Texas Voters in November of last year can be used to make the local VA hospital a reality. The new law allows for the state of Texas to provide monies, land and other resources for the construction and maintenance of veterans hospitals throughout the state. This proposition was proposed by the Valley delegation in Austin. The Veterans Affairs has been telling veterans that there is no money. That new full-fledged stand alone hospitals are not being constructed. U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the ranking Republican on the House Veterans Affairs Committee calls them "relics", a thing of the past. Yet, the VA continues to approved hospitals in other sections of the United States. He also challenged veterans to come up with land and then they would think about it.
The Veterans Alliance called for a meeting with all of the valley legislators to the Texas house. They met with them on February 22, 2010. Four of the current six were present, the other two send a representative. At that meeting the legislators asked the veterans what they needed. The discussion concerned the construction of a VA full-fledged hospital for the valley and how could Proposition 8 be used. The legislators wanted to know if there were committments from local enitites regarding land and funds. How much money was it going to take, how much land and where would it be located at? Representative Rene Oliveira who will head a committee on budget told the veterans that Texas was going through an economic crunch and that just about everybody was going to be asking for funds next year when the legislature meets. He told those present that it was not going to be an easy task. But for them not to give up and go forward with their plans. If we did not get it, they would present legisaltion to insure that the request would be first for consideration on the next session. All four, Rep. Veronica Gonzales, Aaron Pena, Jr. Armando Mando Martinez and Rene Oliveira committed themselves to work together to make a VA hospital for the valley a realty. Rep. Martinez inform veterans that he was looking at two different sources for funds and would file through them.
On March 13, 2010, the Veterans Alliance met with the Most Reverend Bishop Daniel Flores of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville. The meeting was to welcome the new Bishop who was recently selected by the Pope to take over the Diocese due to Bishop Pena's retirement. The Veterans also asked for the Catholic Diocese's continued support for a Veterans Affairs hospital for the valley. He agreed, but he was concerned if there were going to be problems once the site was selected. He felt that different localities might want it in their town. The Veterans Alliance informed him that the problem had been addressed at a meeting and they had agreed to pursue with Harlingen as the site because the VA has already invested monies there. Besides it is the home of the Regional Academic Health Center and the new proposed Texas Unitversity Health Science Center (medical school). He is ready to do what we think is needed and how he can express his support.
On April 7, 2010 the Veterans Alliance went before the city of Harlingen City Commssioners Court and were able to obtain a unanimous vote in favor of a VA hospital for the valley using Prop 8 in pasrtnership with the VA, and to commit land if needed. They also agreed to help by using their legislative agenda committee to help lobby in Washington DC and Austin. The veterans were elated on the results of the meeting. One of the commssioners even commented that another solution would be to exapnd the present expansion of the new surgical center to a full-fledged hospital.
Veterans are now working on ideas to present to all these persons that are willing to help. Meetings with city, legislators, and others are planned to keep the momentum.
Listen Up Veterans, we are getting closer to our goal of getting a much needed VA hospital to the valley, but all Veterans must step up and help. Either by becoming actively involved in the Alliance and/or continue attending public meetings.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)