Patty Murray's Washington View

PATTY MURRAY'S WASHINGTON VIEW

U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Weekly Report to the People of Washington - April 16, 2004

Fighting for Veterans' Healthcare

On Monday, I held an official field hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee at Walla Walla Community College to give local veterans a voice in the future of their healthcare. The hearing was the latest step in my ongoing fight to keep the Administration from closing the Walla Walla VA Medical Center, which serves 12,000 veterans a year.

More than 400 people attended, and we heard testimony from a dozen veterans' advocates and community leaders. As the daughter of a World War II veteran and as the first woman to serve on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I am honored to represent Washington State's 670,000 veterans. I've opposed this closure from day one. Last July, I learned that the CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) Commission was planning to recommend closing our VA hospitals at American Lake, Vancouver and Walla Walla. I immediately wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi, and began working with local veterans and healthcare providers to fight these shortsighted closures. Fortunately, we were able to protect the American Lake and Vancouver facilities.

Unfortunately, two months ago, the CARES Commission formally recommended that Secretary Principi close the Walla Walla hospital. I requested the hearing, so that I can build an official record of the healthcare needs of the region's 69,000 veterans.

At the hearing, I rigorously questioned Dr. Leslie Burger, director of veterans' health for the region. He admitted several things that completely undermine the proposed closure, including the fact that adequate mental health, substance abuse, and long-term care services are not available locally. I also refuted Administration claims that replacement services would be available for veterans. I sit on the Appropriations Committee and on the Veterans Committee. I've looked at the budget, and the VA has not requested a dime for new facilities in Walla Walla. In fact, there are no major projects in the VA pipeline. We cannot allow the Administration to close down such a vital hospital with no real plans to care for our veterans.

NEXT STEPS

I am going to share the hundreds of comments I received directly with Secretary Principi and urge him, once again, to save this hospital. I am also going to use my position on the Veterans and Appropriations Committees to continue standing up for our veterans. Next year, when I become either the Chairman or the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, the VA is going to have to come before me and my committee. I'm not going to forget how our veterans in Walla Walla were treated.

I also released a new report at the hearing, Closure of Walla Walla VA Medical Facility: Effect on Veterans' Access to Mental Healthcare, which was prepared by the committee's minority staff.

Read the full report at: