Sen. Cornyn Urges Administration To Be Proactive In Meeting Inpatient Hospital Needs Of Valley Veterans

Press Release

Sen. Cornyn Urges Administration To Be Proactive In Meeting Inpatient Hospital Needs Of Valley Veterans

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today responded to comments made yesterday in San Antonio by U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki indicating the VA will take a wait-and-see approach regarding the construction of a full-scale VA hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. Secretary Shinseki said he first wants to see how well the newly expanded ambulatory care clinic in Harlingen meets the needs of Valley veterans.

"I urge Secretary Shinseki to be proactive in his efforts to meet the health care needs of our Valley veterans and explore every possible avenue to bring a full-scale VA hospital to the Valley. To that end, I call on my colleagues in the Senate to support my legislation that would pave the way for this full-scale hospital, as well as President Obama, who pledged during a campaign visit to the Valley last year to support this effort."

South Texas has one of the highest per capita levels of veterans in the nation. The estimated 100,000 veterans in South Texas are sometimes forced to drive up to 250 miles for inpatient medical care.

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