[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          VETERANS' HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY REFORM ACT OF 1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand in support of H.R. 
3118, and praise the work of Veterans Committee Chairman Bob Stump. I 
am especially pleased that a provision I pledged to support has been 
included in this important legislation. Because of the work of 
Representative Jerry Weller and Representative Tim Hutchinson and his 
Veterans' Hospital subcommittee, hospitals in my district will now be 
given the opportunity to contract with the VA for local hospital care 
and medical services so that veterans in north-central Illinois will 
have improved access to quality health care.
  This is a great victory for one group of veterans in particular, 
because for years they have had inadequate access to veterans' health 
care. Today, LaSalle County veterans cannot go to their local doctor 
and hospital. Instead, because of outdated Washington Regulations, they 
are often forced to drive hours to Chicago and stand in long lines to 
receive needed health care. Such rules cost us time and money and it's 
time we change them. The bill we adopted today will make it possible to 
open an outpatient VA clinic in LaSalle County so that over 13,000 
eligible veterans and their families can receive care in their home 
communities.
  I promised at a Veterans Committee field hearing in April that I 
would see this measure passed, and I've kept that promise. Our veterans 
answered the call when our Nation needed them. Today, Congress answers 
the call of veterans who are in need of our help.

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