Letter to Chairman Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service Commission Everett Alvarez, Jr.
August 8, 2003
The Honorable Everett Alvarez, Jr.
Chairman
Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service Commission
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20480
Dear Chairman Alvarez:
I am writing to express my serious concern regarding the hearings to be held in New York regarding the Draft National Plan of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service (CARES) initiative. I am troubled that the proposed structure and format of these hearings will limit the ability of affected veterans throughout the state of New York to express their concerns about the Draft National Plan, and urge you to ensure that the public will have every opportunity to raise their questions and concerns at these hearings.
It is my understanding that at the hearings scheduled by the CARES Commission, the public will only be able to express its opinion on the Draft National Plan through the submission of written questions of comments. I strongly believe that due to the significant impact the Draft National Plan would have on veterans throughout New York, the public must be able to fully express its opinions during the course of these hearings.
I also feel that a full, thorough, and unfettered expression of public sentiment regarding the Draft National Plan is an absolute necessity in evaluating and possibly improving the plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for final approval. As such, I respectfully request you to allow all attendees of the hearings to ask questions or directly express comments to CARES Commission personnel presiding over these hearings.
If adopted and implemented, the Draft National Plan could have a profoundly detrimental effect on the ability of veterans throughout New York to receive access to quality healthcare. The Draft National Plan proposes the closure or reduction in services at several important veterans healthcare facilities in New York. For example, the plan calls for the closure of the Canandaigua VA hospital and for the redistribution of inpatient services from that facility to facilities in Batavia, Buffalo, and Syracuse. The plan also calls for the closure of inpatient facilities in the Manhattan and Montrose VA hospitals.
I am greatly concerned by the fact that this proposal seems to be directly at odds with the Department of Veterans Affairs goal of enhancing the accessibility and quality of veterans' healthcare services. If enacted, this plan would force thousands of veterans to travel increased distances to seek service and would hinder the ability of family and friends to visit veterans who require inpatient care.
I thank you for your attention to this extremely important matter, and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate