Rural Veterans Access to Care Act

RURAL VETERANS ACCESS TO CARE ACT -- (House of Representatives - September 09, 2008)

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you, Chairman Filner, and thank you, Congressman Moran. I live in Houston, Texas. I live across the street from the DeBakey Medical Center. My district is such that you can traverse it in 1 hour. But this is America that we are talking about, not just the cities, not just the rural areas. All veterans in America ought to have access to a facility, and they ought to have immediate access. It is not enough for me to have the DeBakey Center in my district and have other veterans who have to travel 5 hours to receive medical attention.

I am here to ask my colleagues to please, let's support veterans. What we do today will say to them what we think about the work they have done for us. If they can be there for us, willing to sacrifice their lives, we can be there for them to make sure that they have a good quality of life when they return home to the United States of America.

Mr. FILNER. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Yes, sir.

Mr. FILNER. I just want to thank you not only for speaking out for rural veterans who, as you said, are not in your district, but in your State and in our Nation. But your bill that expanded opportunities for affordable housing for our veterans was also a great step forward, and we greatly admire your work here, although you've only been here a short time. Thank you so much.

I yield back.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank you. I am so honored, sir, that you gave me this opportunity to have a word on this most important piece of legislation. It really is something that we must do for our veterans. I thank you, and may God bless you.

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