In south Texas there are over 110,000 veterans in an area that encompasses from Corpus Christi toward Laredo and everything south of that imaginary line. Among them are many war the different wars our nation has been involved in . Men and women who have stood talll and defended our great nation. Many have joined the brotherhood of Armed Forces veterans in an effort to bring a Full Medical Service Center in the valley.
Once again we celebrate another Patriotic Day-Our Independence Day. Throughout south Texas and the nation there will be many ceremonies honoring this special day. Veterans will be the center of attention.
We have just celebrated Memorial Day and memories of that day are still fresh in our minds. And yet, plans are being made already to celebrate Veterans Day. These are days set aside to honor our Veterans.
But we should honor our veterans year round.
Right now veterans continue their efforts to bring a much needed Full Service Medical Center (VA hospital to south Texas), Its been a long battle and many veterans are weary of all the work done to get so close to their goal. But we are not there yet.
You can help these proud Heroes by supporting their efforts.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
SOUTH TEXAS FULL SERVICE MEDICAL CENTER ACTION
Public Law 112-94 the Strategic Capital Investment Plan of 2012
During the closing of the year, veterans received good news from Washington DC. On December 23, 2011, President Barack Obama signed Public Law No. 112-94. This made House Bill 2055 law. Veterans are reminded that Congressman Henry Cuellar attached his HB 1318 to this bill back in June 2011. The title of 2055 was the Military &Veterans Affaris and Other Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
Cuellar's bill was not included per se in the final outcome of the bill, but what occurred was that the House passed the Bill by a 411-5 vote, Part of the vote accepted the House Committee Report presented at the hearing. The House Committee Report included the following language regarding the attachment: "Health care center expansions- Recognizing the lack of accessible VA services in many regions of the country, the Committee urges the Secretary to include in the VA Strategic Capital Improvement Plan the expansion of existing VA health care centers to include in-patient accommodations, urgent care services, and the full range of services required by women veterans when the absence of such services locally requires veterans to make round trips of more than five hours to access such services at a VA facility."
This language allows for the Veterans Affairs Strategic Capital Investment Plan to address the expansion of the Surgical Center in Harlingen. The Second Part of the Strategic Capital Investment Plan (SCIP) of 2012 mentions the Harlingen Clinic in the plan. You may find it on pages 8.3-239 to 83-246. It is now up to the Veterans Affairs to decide what is to be done in the future on our request. According to Lawrence Biro, District Director of VISN, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki will be the person that will decide what is to be done.
Veterans should start directing their efforts toward Secretary Shinseki and his Deputy Director W. Scott Gould. These two individuals will play a very important role on SPIC. It is up to veterans to keep the issue alive at the VA. Now that the target has been identified, all efforts need to go to convincing Shinseki and Scott of the need to expand the Harlingen VA Surgical Center into a Full Service Medical Center.
Veterans in south Texas must not stop their efforts to get a Full Service Medical Center. After a long five years of constant activity, this is as far as their efforts have gone. They are not there yet, but it looks that Veterans are indeed one step closer to reaching their goal.
During the closing of the year, veterans received good news from Washington DC. On December 23, 2011, President Barack Obama signed Public Law No. 112-94. This made House Bill 2055 law. Veterans are reminded that Congressman Henry Cuellar attached his HB 1318 to this bill back in June 2011. The title of 2055 was the Military &Veterans Affaris and Other Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
Cuellar's bill was not included per se in the final outcome of the bill, but what occurred was that the House passed the Bill by a 411-5 vote, Part of the vote accepted the House Committee Report presented at the hearing. The House Committee Report included the following language regarding the attachment: "Health care center expansions- Recognizing the lack of accessible VA services in many regions of the country, the Committee urges the Secretary to include in the VA Strategic Capital Improvement Plan the expansion of existing VA health care centers to include in-patient accommodations, urgent care services, and the full range of services required by women veterans when the absence of such services locally requires veterans to make round trips of more than five hours to access such services at a VA facility."
This language allows for the Veterans Affairs Strategic Capital Investment Plan to address the expansion of the Surgical Center in Harlingen. The Second Part of the Strategic Capital Investment Plan (SCIP) of 2012 mentions the Harlingen Clinic in the plan. You may find it on pages 8.3-239 to 83-246. It is now up to the Veterans Affairs to decide what is to be done in the future on our request. According to Lawrence Biro, District Director of VISN, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Lt. Gen. Eric Shinseki will be the person that will decide what is to be done.
Veterans should start directing their efforts toward Secretary Shinseki and his Deputy Director W. Scott Gould. These two individuals will play a very important role on SPIC. It is up to veterans to keep the issue alive at the VA. Now that the target has been identified, all efforts need to go to convincing Shinseki and Scott of the need to expand the Harlingen VA Surgical Center into a Full Service Medical Center.
Veterans in south Texas must not stop their efforts to get a Full Service Medical Center. After a long five years of constant activity, this is as far as their efforts have gone. They are not there yet, but it looks that Veterans are indeed one step closer to reaching their goal.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
VA Hospital for south Texas
December 14, 2011 Update on VA hospital efforts
What is happening with Congressman's Henry Cuellar's HB 1318? He filed this bill and it was sent to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where it was send to the House sub-committee on Veteans Health. In June 2011, Cuellar attached his bill to the Military and Veterans Affairs and other related agencies Appropriation Bill-HB 2055. That bill passed the House with a 411-5 vote and was sent to the Senate. HB 1318 calls for an expansion the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center House Report 112-94 (accompanying HR 2055, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012).
The House Committee Report included the following language regarding the attachment:
Health care center expansions- Recognizing the lack of accessible VA services in many regions of the country, the Committee urges the Secretary to include in the VA Strategic Capital Improvement Plan the expansion of existing VA health care centers to include in-patient accommodations, urgent care services, and the full range of services required by women veterans when the absence of such services locally requires veterans to make round trips of more than five hours to access such services at a VA facility.
The Senate also passed 2055 and Congress agreed to send it to the President for his consideration on December 8, 2011. However, the final vote did not include anything on the amendment filed by Cuellar. At this time, we do not know if indeed HB 1318 as attached by Cuellar is part of the bill. The Appropriations bill is likely to become law.
Veterans need to call Cuellar's office and ask him or his staff what happened to his attached bill. Call now before it is send to the POTUS. With the holidays fastly approaching there might not be any new filings, but there is still time in case HB 1318 was not part of the bill.
What is happening with Congressman's Henry Cuellar's HB 1318? He filed this bill and it was sent to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where it was send to the House sub-committee on Veteans Health. In June 2011, Cuellar attached his bill to the Military and Veterans Affairs and other related agencies Appropriation Bill-HB 2055. That bill passed the House with a 411-5 vote and was sent to the Senate. HB 1318 calls for an expansion the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center House Report 112-94 (accompanying HR 2055, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012).
The House Committee Report included the following language regarding the attachment:
Health care center expansions- Recognizing the lack of accessible VA services in many regions of the country, the Committee urges the Secretary to include in the VA Strategic Capital Improvement Plan the expansion of existing VA health care centers to include in-patient accommodations, urgent care services, and the full range of services required by women veterans when the absence of such services locally requires veterans to make round trips of more than five hours to access such services at a VA facility.
The Senate also passed 2055 and Congress agreed to send it to the President for his consideration on December 8, 2011. However, the final vote did not include anything on the amendment filed by Cuellar. At this time, we do not know if indeed HB 1318 as attached by Cuellar is part of the bill. The Appropriations bill is likely to become law.
Veterans need to call Cuellar's office and ask him or his staff what happened to his attached bill. Call now before it is send to the POTUS. With the holidays fastly approaching there might not be any new filings, but there is still time in case HB 1318 was not part of the bill.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
V A hospital for south Texas Nov. 29, 2011
Senator John Cornyn agreed to attach his bill for a Full Medical Service Center at the Harlingen Veterans Affairs Surgical Center to the National Defense Authorization. He has obtained co-sponsorship from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. We hope that these efforts prove successful.
Senator Cornyn in a previous Congressional Session had attached his bill as a rider Defense Authorization Budget Act, but it was not allowed. Maybe this time veterans will be more successful.
However, the senators’ local staff representatives have been meeting with veterans regarding suggestions and ideas on how to get legislation passed. These veteran suggestions were relayed to the respective Senator’s military and veterans aides. Cornyn’s S 396 went before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee this past summer but was not voted on. It remains in that committee.
Here is the Press Release issued by the Senators.
UNITED STATES SENATE
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, JOHN CORNYN
United States Senators - Texas
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Megan Mitchell (Cornyn) (202) 224-0704
Jeff Nelligan (Hutchison), 202-224-9767
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sens. Cornyn, Hutchison Offer Amendment To Bring Inpatient VA Facility To The Valley
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, today offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to incorporate a full-service inpatient health care facility into the existing South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care Center in Harlingen.
Sens. Cornyn and Hutchison have introduced similar legislation in the past and continue to make the case for a VA inpatient facility in Far South Texas with top-ranking VA officials, as well as the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (see attached). While the Senators have supported and welcomed expansions to outpatient and other services at the existing Harlingen VA facilities, they maintain that access to VA inpatient care still must be provided.
“This holiday season will see the return of tens of thousands of service members from locations across the globe, including the remaining 40,000 troops in Iraq who are winding down our nation’s 9-year mission there. Already, the growing population of 100,000 veterans in Far South Texas lacks adequate access to full-service inpatient health care, and further delay in providing this population with the local inpatient care they deserve is unacceptable. I will not give up the fight to make this inpatient facility a reality for the veterans of South Texas,” Sen. Cornyn said.
“A grateful nation cares for those who have answered the call to serve, even after they leave the battlefield,” said Sen. Hutchison. “The veterans of South Texas answered their nation’s call, and many of them went in harm’s way and risked everything for their country. This amendment will help to ensure that these South Texas veterans receive the care they deserve.”
The hospital issue is not dead. Veterans are still at it. It has been a long sought goal of many veterans and for once they feel that they have had an impact at the national level. Veterans must continue forward. All veterans that have been active in this movement should re-charge their batteries and once again make an all out push for a VA hospital for the area. Ana Garcia of Cornyn’s office has been very aggressive in committing the senator’s office to make every effort to move the issue. Communications with the Senator’s national office are via satellite and those sessions are the next best thing to being there. Veterans are counting on her continued full support.
Senator Cornyn in a previous Congressional Session had attached his bill as a rider Defense Authorization Budget Act, but it was not allowed. Maybe this time veterans will be more successful.
However, the senators’ local staff representatives have been meeting with veterans regarding suggestions and ideas on how to get legislation passed. These veteran suggestions were relayed to the respective Senator’s military and veterans aides. Cornyn’s S 396 went before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee this past summer but was not voted on. It remains in that committee.
Here is the Press Release issued by the Senators.
UNITED STATES SENATE
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, JOHN CORNYN
United States Senators - Texas
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Megan Mitchell (Cornyn) (202) 224-0704
Jeff Nelligan (Hutchison), 202-224-9767
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sens. Cornyn, Hutchison Offer Amendment To Bring Inpatient VA Facility To The Valley
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, today offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that would require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to incorporate a full-service inpatient health care facility into the existing South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care Center in Harlingen.
Sens. Cornyn and Hutchison have introduced similar legislation in the past and continue to make the case for a VA inpatient facility in Far South Texas with top-ranking VA officials, as well as the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (see attached). While the Senators have supported and welcomed expansions to outpatient and other services at the existing Harlingen VA facilities, they maintain that access to VA inpatient care still must be provided.
“This holiday season will see the return of tens of thousands of service members from locations across the globe, including the remaining 40,000 troops in Iraq who are winding down our nation’s 9-year mission there. Already, the growing population of 100,000 veterans in Far South Texas lacks adequate access to full-service inpatient health care, and further delay in providing this population with the local inpatient care they deserve is unacceptable. I will not give up the fight to make this inpatient facility a reality for the veterans of South Texas,” Sen. Cornyn said.
“A grateful nation cares for those who have answered the call to serve, even after they leave the battlefield,” said Sen. Hutchison. “The veterans of South Texas answered their nation’s call, and many of them went in harm’s way and risked everything for their country. This amendment will help to ensure that these South Texas veterans receive the care they deserve.”
The hospital issue is not dead. Veterans are still at it. It has been a long sought goal of many veterans and for once they feel that they have had an impact at the national level. Veterans must continue forward. All veterans that have been active in this movement should re-charge their batteries and once again make an all out push for a VA hospital for the area. Ana Garcia of Cornyn’s office has been very aggressive in committing the senator’s office to make every effort to move the issue. Communications with the Senator’s national office are via satellite and those sessions are the next best thing to being there. Veterans are counting on her continued full support.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Veterans Affairs Committee comes to South Texas
Corpus Christi, TX
October 21, 2011
Veterans in the Rio Grande Valley failed to take advantage of a scheduled trip by Congressman Jeff Miller, the Chairman of the U S House Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller was invited to a summit sponsored by Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27). The Summit was held at the Del Mar College Campus in Corpus Christi, TX.
Valley veterans send hundreds of letters to the House Veterans Affairs Committee asking that Congressman Ruben Hinojosa's HB 837 be placed on the agenda for a markup. Congressman Miller is the one that decides what appears on the agenda to be discussed and voted on. At this time it is not known when the next Markup Session will be held, but it should not be that long.
Valley veterans could have met with him in person and made a personal requests. Also, Congressman Hinojosa could have let valley veterans know about the summit and Miller's visit and requested veteran representatives be allowed to meet with Miller. Farenthold has signed as Co-Sponsor of HB 837. Another opportunity like this will probably not happened during this Session.
Veterans must be more vigilant on happenings at the Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller was also instrumental in assisting Congressman Henry Cuellar get his HB 1318 attached to HB 2055. This bill called for an expansion of the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center using the Veterans Health Administration Specific Investment Capital Fund. HB 2055 has passed both Chambers in Congress and is set to go to the President.
Maybe this is why veterans in the Valley feel like they have won the battle for a Veterans Affairs Hospital. They are optimistic about it and hope that it is allowed to spend funds for HB 1318. The SPIC plan was accepting applications for funding from the different VA Health Care Systems throughout the nation. The first cycle would receive application by October 1, 2011. The local VA Health System did not submit one and it is hoped that the proposal will be ready for the second cycle with a deadline of April 2012.
Veterans want the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to be expanded to a Full Medical Service Hospital. Three bills have been filed in Congress addressing the issue: SB 396 filed by Senator Cornyn; HB 837 filed by Congressman Ruben Hinojosa; and HB 1318 filed by Congressman Henry Cuellar.
Corpus Christi, TX
October 21, 2011
Veterans in the Rio Grande Valley failed to take advantage of a scheduled trip by Congressman Jeff Miller, the Chairman of the U S House Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller was invited to a summit sponsored by Congressman Blake Farenthold (TX-27). The Summit was held at the Del Mar College Campus in Corpus Christi, TX.
Valley veterans send hundreds of letters to the House Veterans Affairs Committee asking that Congressman Ruben Hinojosa's HB 837 be placed on the agenda for a markup. Congressman Miller is the one that decides what appears on the agenda to be discussed and voted on. At this time it is not known when the next Markup Session will be held, but it should not be that long.
Valley veterans could have met with him in person and made a personal requests. Also, Congressman Hinojosa could have let valley veterans know about the summit and Miller's visit and requested veteran representatives be allowed to meet with Miller. Farenthold has signed as Co-Sponsor of HB 837. Another opportunity like this will probably not happened during this Session.
Veterans must be more vigilant on happenings at the Veterans Affairs Committee. Miller was also instrumental in assisting Congressman Henry Cuellar get his HB 1318 attached to HB 2055. This bill called for an expansion of the Harlingen VA Surgical Center to a Full Service Medical Center using the Veterans Health Administration Specific Investment Capital Fund. HB 2055 has passed both Chambers in Congress and is set to go to the President.
Maybe this is why veterans in the Valley feel like they have won the battle for a Veterans Affairs Hospital. They are optimistic about it and hope that it is allowed to spend funds for HB 1318. The SPIC plan was accepting applications for funding from the different VA Health Care Systems throughout the nation. The first cycle would receive application by October 1, 2011. The local VA Health System did not submit one and it is hoped that the proposal will be ready for the second cycle with a deadline of April 2012.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Strategic Capital Investment Plan of the V A
Friday, July 8, 2011Strategic Capital Investment Plan of Veterans Affairs
This part of the June 14, 2011 House Veterans Affairs Committee report that was submitted. I hope that the SCIP program does come through for us. But read careful what the report states. If anyone knows or finds any information on SCIP please let us know.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS
For FY 2012, the Administration requests a total of $1.271 billion for VA's four construction accounts: Major Construction ($590 million); Minor Construction ($550 million); State Extended Care Facility Construction Grants ($85 million); and State Cemetery Construction Grants ($46 million). The total resource request would, assuming amounts for FY 2011 are funded at the President's requested level, translate to a reduction of $478 million, or 37.6 percent. Further, consistent with the requirements of section 905 of Public Law 111-275, the Administration proposes to allocate $136 million in major construction funding derived from bid savings.
VA's new Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process is a 10-year plan designed to identify and prioritize specific capital investment options to meet service delivery gaps in the areas of safety, security, utilization, access, seismic protection, facility condition assessments, parking and energy. SCIP projects a 10-year resource need of between $53 and $65 billion.
VA's total capital request (including facility leases, equipment, and non recurring maintenance needs not covered under the four construction accounts named above) for FY 2012 is $2.876 billion. At the present rate, it would take 20 years to meet the minimum resource need identified in the SCIP 10-year plan. We are, therefore, concerned that the SCIP plan is unrealistic on its face and would like the opportunity to engage the Administration on the plan going forward. Given that the stated needs of the system are vast, we recommend providing resources above the President's request for major and minor construction totaling $168 million.
This part of the June 14, 2011 House Veterans Affairs Committee report that was submitted. I hope that the SCIP program does come through for us. But read careful what the report states. If anyone knows or finds any information on SCIP please let us know.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS
For FY 2012, the Administration requests a total of $1.271 billion for VA's four construction accounts: Major Construction ($590 million); Minor Construction ($550 million); State Extended Care Facility Construction Grants ($85 million); and State Cemetery Construction Grants ($46 million). The total resource request would, assuming amounts for FY 2011 are funded at the President's requested level, translate to a reduction of $478 million, or 37.6 percent. Further, consistent with the requirements of section 905 of Public Law 111-275, the Administration proposes to allocate $136 million in major construction funding derived from bid savings.
VA's new Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process is a 10-year plan designed to identify and prioritize specific capital investment options to meet service delivery gaps in the areas of safety, security, utilization, access, seismic protection, facility condition assessments, parking and energy. SCIP projects a 10-year resource need of between $53 and $65 billion.
VA's total capital request (including facility leases, equipment, and non recurring maintenance needs not covered under the four construction accounts named above) for FY 2012 is $2.876 billion. At the present rate, it would take 20 years to meet the minimum resource need identified in the SCIP 10-year plan. We are, therefore, concerned that the SCIP plan is unrealistic on its face and would like the opportunity to engage the Administration on the plan going forward. Given that the stated needs of the system are vast, we recommend providing resources above the President's request for major and minor construction totaling $168 million.
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