[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1613]]
                         VA-HUD APPROPRIATIONS

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                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I will offer a technical amendment tomorrow 
that calls on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a 
report to Congress reporting on resource sharing agreements for 
services, programs and facilities the department undertakes with the 
Department of Defense (DoD).
  Every American knows that the face of health care has changed 
dramatically over the past decades. This is no less true for military 
and veterans' health care. It is clear from all the studies undertaken 
by the departments of Defense and Veterans' Affairs that the 
integration of health care services--where possible--will enhance the 
quality of care for the men and women who are serving our country today 
and those who served our Nation in the past.
  My district is home to the North Chicago VA Medical Center and the 
Great Lakes Naval Hospital. During the last Administration, officials 
made two attempts to close the North Chicago VA Medical Center. On June 
19, 2001, the VA released its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced 
Services (CARES) study. The CARES study developed four options to 
improve veterans health care in the Chicago area, each of which 
recommended the preservation of services offered at North Chicago. The 
CARES study also recommended increasing the level of cooperation 
between North Chicago VA and the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, located 
less than a mile apart.
  Integration of the two medical facilities is both practical and also 
urgent in North Chicago, Illinois, where the Great Lakes Naval Training 
Center Hospital and the North Chicago Veterans Medical Center both sit 
underutilized and in such close proximity. Combining these two 
facilities in a state of the art, federal health care center will 
maximize the use of tax payer dollars, enhance the training 
opportunities for young naval medical corps personnel and, most 
importantly, bring the health care we promised these men and women into 
the twenty-first century. By directing the VA to report to Congress on 
the issues facing resource sharing, Congress will be able to better 
understand and utilize resource sharing agreements when moving forward 
with the cost shaving approach.
  I have met with Secretary Principi and Secretary Rumsfeld to discuss 
enhanced cooperation and health care resources sharing between the DoD 
and the VA. Both secretaries are committed to providing our men and 
women in uniform, veterans and retirees with world-class health care in 
an efficient manner. Both agree that cooperation between the two 
agencies, when possible, will enable the departments to meet the 
growing needs of active and retired soldiers.
  As an officer in the Naval Reserve and fellow veteran, I understand 
the sacrifices made by the men and women who wore their country's 
uniform. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
  I would like to thank Chairman Walsh, ranking member Mollohan, and 
the staff of the VA-HUD subcommittee for their help with this 
amendment. I hope to continue working with them on this issue as this 
bill moves into a conference committee with the other body.

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