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701 North Court Street
Marion, Illinois 62959
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Moline, Illinois 61265
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Obama Statement on the Marion VA Medical Center Reports

Monday, January 28, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement after the publication of two reports by the Department of Veterans Affairs' inspector general and the Veterans Health Administration's medical examiner on unexpected deaths at the Marion VA Medical Center:

"Our veterans should expect nothing less than world class care and treatment at our nation's veterans' facilities. I remain deeply concerned over the unacceptable breakdown that led to these tragic deaths and substandard care at the Marion VA Medical Center.

"These investigations have provided new information about failures in leadership and quality control. However, the VA must provide stronger assurances that these problems aren't occurring elsewhere, and that it has a plan to help the families who have lost loved ones.

"I will continue working with Senator Durbin and the Veterans' Affairs Committee to ensure that the VA adds the necessary safeguards and thoroughly reviews its standards at other facilities throughout the country."