Murray Brings Veterans Hearing to Walla Walla in Ongoing Fight to Save VA Hospital

Murray Brings Veterans Hearing to Walla Walla in Ongoing Fight to Save VA Hospital

Murray Collects Testimony from More than a Dozen Veterans' Advocates

Senator Also Releases New Report on CARES Process

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) held an official field hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee at Walla Walla Community College, the latest step in her nine-month fight to keep the Administration from denying healthcare to men and women who have fought for our country.

At the hearing, Murray also released a new report, titled "'Closure of Walla Walla VA Medical Facility: Effect on Veterans Access to Mental Healthcare" that was prepared by the minority staff of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

The report concludes that:

The Administration and the CARES Commission did not take into account the availability of non-VA mental health care when making recommendations to close the Walla Walla VA facility;

The VA does not have a specific and detailed plan demonstrating the manner in which specialized mental health care would be provided to veterans currently receiving mental health services if the Walla Walla VA is closed;

The Walla Walla VA offers specialized, integrated mental health care to the veterans that is not duplicated elsewhere in the community.

The full report can be found online at