[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 2 (Thursday, January 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          VETERANS' HEALTH CARE

                                 ______


                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that will help 
to significantly improve the standard of health care provided for our 
nation's veterans, specifically those residing in South Texas.
  This bill authorizes the establishment of a new veterans' medical 
facility in South Texas. Under the provisions of the bill, the 
Administrator of the Veterans' Administration (VA) is granted the 
authority to acquire and construct a medical facility on a suitable 
site in the Rio Grande Valley in order to more effectively deliver 
needed medical services to the growing number of South Texas veterans. 
I am honored that Congressman de la Garza and Congressman Tejeda, a 
member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, are also original cosponsors 
of this bill.
  While significant strides are being made in improving both the 
quality of health care and medical facilities available to our nation's 
veterans, significant shortfalls still exist in certain areas. The 
combination of the growing number of patients served by South Texas VA 
facilities along with the demographic ``aging'' of the veteran 
population is leading to a situation where existing medical facilities 
are being stretched beyond capacity. Already, patient usage of the VA 
medical facilities in South Texas has increased. Additionally, the 
number of elderly veterans in the State of Texas continues to grow, as 
does their need for medical care. The situation is exacerbated by the 
fact that South Texas also receives a steady number of elderly veterans 
who annually reside in South Texas during the winter months due to the 
warm climate.
  The overburdened state of the veterans' health care system in South 
Texas becomes apparent when veterans from the Rio Grande Valley, in 
particular from my District, must travel over 10 hours to reach the 
closest Veterans' Administration hospital. A number of these veterans 
are physically incapable of driving these distances, and many do not 
have family members to transport them to these facilities.
  Our nation's veterans deserve the finest health care services 
available, and the creation of a medical facility in the Rio Grnade 
Valley will be a significant and much needed step towards meeting this 
obligation. The construction of a medical facility in South Texas is 
the first step in addressing the critical health care needs of veterans 
in South Texas.


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