Congressman Zinke to VA Secretary McDonald: Expand Ft. Harrison Facility, Strengthen Mental Health Services, Build Butte Veterans Home
Statement
Today, in a letter to Veterans Administration Secretary Robert A. McDonald and the newly appointed VA Montana Director Johnny Ginnity, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke called for the need to expand the Fort Harrison VA facility, build the proposed Butte Veterans Home, and strengthen mental health services for Montana veterans. (Below is the full text of the letter.)
Following a recent tour of the Ft. Harrison facility in Helena, where Rep. Zinke was informed of VA employees using restrooms to conduct interviews and examinations to ensure privacy, Zinke wrote: "During my tour, several historical homes on the campus were identified as innovative solutions to the challenge in available space. Rather than building a new facility that is costly and years away, these vacant homes are a possible solution. However, red tape and bureaucracy are preventing common sense solutions."
Zinke also pressed Secretary McDonald to begin work on the proposed Butte Veterans Home, a project that has been stuck in limbo for two years thanks to mismanagement at the VA. "For the past two legislative sessions, the State of Montana has appropriated their portion of the funding for this important project, yet it remains delayed in Washington I believe there are wasteful programs that could be sacrificed in order to deliver the quality care our veterans deserve."
Zinke continued, "The two existing veteran's homes in Montana are located roughly 250 (Columbia Falls) and 450 (Glendive) miles away from Butte. To force our veterans to be hours away from their families is a hardship that does not honor the sacrifices that our veterans have made."
Earlier this year, Congressman Zinke introduced the Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2015 to expand veterans' access to prompt quality health care. The bill will ensure veterans who live in rural areas -- more than 40 miles driving distance away from the nearest VA facility -- would be able to seek treatment at local health care facilities.
Veterans and military families who need assistance with related issues are encouraged to contact Zack Gambill in Congressman Zinke's office at 406-502-1435 or Zack.Gambill@mail.house.gov.
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