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VA/Navy Joint Ambulatory Care Clinic Groundbreaking Remarks
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| May 9th, 2005 |
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Thank you for that introduction, Dr. Lynch, and for your service to the veterans of VISN Sixteen.
This day has been a long time coming.
Four years ago at a Memorial Day breakfast at the White House, our Commander-in-Chief said, “We must improve the way the VA and the Department of Defense work together to provide care to those who have served in uniform.” He announced the creation of a presidential task force to develop an aggressive strategy for improving coordination of VA and DoD programs and systems in the delivery of health care to veterans, military retirees, and service personnel.
Later that year, as I began my first campaign for Congress, the 100,000 veterans who are now my constituents drove home a similar message: Northwest Florida, home to every service branch and their veterans and retirees, represents what is arguably the most striking example of access to health care challenges in the nation.
So, one of my first orders of business after coming to Congress was to assess the opportunities and challenges that existed along the Emerald Coast. Three years ago on a day very much like today, I welcomed Secretary Principi to Pensacola, to see what fine folks at the Navy hospital and the VA clinic had to offer. Even before that day, and particularly since, the partnering, the coordination, and the sharing of resources between the Navy and VA are a model for the nation.
As I look around, I see the faces of an awful lot of people who rolled up their sleeves with me and worked vigilantly to bring us to this moment. Today, we’re going to break ground on what will be the largest facility of its kind anywhere in the country. More importantly, we’re going to close the access to care gap for one of the largest concentrations of veterans in America, and we’re going to improve the mission of Naval Hospital Pensacola. The JACC will provide healthcare not previously available to area active duty, dependents, and military retirees. Moreover, because of the expanded co-sharing the JACC will provide, the hospital will be augmented in the event that the imbedded Field Hospital deploys again. I could not be more proud that Pensacola will lead the charge toward federal medicine partnering.
In a time of war, we look a little differently at our servicemembers and our veterans. We pay tributes on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and they're made with a little greater feeling, because Americans have seen the terrible harm that an enemy can inflict. And it has left us deeply grateful for the men and women who rise strongly in the defense of our nation. We appreciate the sacrifices that our military is making today. We appreciate the sacrifices that their families make with them. When the call comes to defend our country, our military is ready, and we are proud of their service.
The shovels we’ll put in the ground today are a small symbol of our gratitude and commitment to America’s finest – past, present, and future.
Many, many here today can share in this accomplishment. Including our guest speakers and our distinguished VA Secretary, Jim Nicholson. Secretary Nicholson was sworn into office on February 1st of this year, following a richly diverse professional life in public service and beyond. Prior to his nomination, Secretary Nicholson served as Ambassador to the Holy See, where he became a well-known advocate in Rome for the elevation of human dignity, giving special emphasis to human trafficking, religious freedom, and international terrorism. He was knighted by Pope John Paul II in October 2003 for his work representing the U.S. to the Vatican.
Raised on a tenant farm in northwest Iowa in a family of nine, Secretary Nicholson is a 1961 West Point graduate. He served eight years on active duty as a paratrooper and Ranger-qualified Army officer, then twenty-two years in the Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of colonel. While serving in Vietnam, he earned the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and two Air Medals.
Mr. Secretary, I am honored to welcome you to Florida’s Emerald Coast – where thousands live like millions wish they could. You stepped in and maintained the same support for this initiative and the Eglin clinic as did your predecessor, and I am grateful. Sir, it is an honor to serve with you as subcommittee chairman on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and I look forward to our continued partnership. Welcome.
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There are no Floor Speechess to be displayed for this month.
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