[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 140 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-84. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of Tennessee urging the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs (VA) to accept Rhea County's proposed donation of its 
     old hospital building, facilities, and campus to the VA and 
     to utilize such building, facilities, and campus to locate a 
     VA medical facility at such site; to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 546

       A Resolution relative to the location of a U.S. Department 
     of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Rhea County.
       Whereas, East Tennessee is in great need of a medical 
     facility to serve its brave veterans; and
       Whereas, because of Rhea County's central location, the 
     location of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
     hospital there would serve approximately 30,000 veterans from 
     East Tennessee, North Georgia, and Northern Alabama; and
       Whereas, presently, veterans living in East Tennessee must 
     travel 150 miles to the Alvin C. York VA facility in 
     Murfeesboro for medical treatment; this extensive travel 
     creates a hardship for most of these veterans; and
       Whereas, Rhea County has recently opened a new hospital and 
     has generously offered to donate its old hospital building, 
     facilities, and campus to the VA for the express purpose of 
     locating a much needed medical facility there to serve the 
     veterans of East Tennessee; and
       Whereas, the Old Rhea County Medical Center building could 
     be easily modified to house 150 beds, and the building is 
     still equipped with modern technology and modern operational 
     systems; and
       Whereas, easily accessible from U.S. Highway 27, the old 
     Rhea County hospital property includes 132 vacant acres that 
     could be utilized for expansion in the future; and
       Whereas, in addition to serving the medical needs of our 
     East Tennessee veterans, the location of a VA medical 
     facility in Rhea County would create new jobs in the area; 
     and
       Whereas, our veterans have sacrificed a great deal in 
     defending and protecting our Nation, and the State of 
     Tennessee and the Federal Government should work together to 
     adequately provide for the medical needs of these valiant 
     citizens; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the one hundred 
     sixth General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the Senate 
     concurring, That this General Assembly strongly urges and 
     encourages the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to accept 
     Rhea County's proposed donation of its old hospital building, 
     facilities, and campus to the VA and to utilize such 
     building, facilities, and campus to locate a VA medical 
     facility at such site. Be it further
       Resolved, That this General Assembly urges each member of 
     Tennessee's Congressional delegation to use the full measure 
     of his or her power and influence to facilitate the location 
     of a VA medical facility at the old Rhea County hospital 
     campus; and be it further
       Resolved, That an enrolled copy of this resolution be 
     transmitted to the Honorable Brack Obama, President of the 
     United States; the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs; the 
     Speaker and the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives; 
     the President and the Secretary of the U.S. Senate; each 
     member of Tennessee's Congressional delegation; and the 
     Honorable Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee.

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