Washington, DC (March 17, 2006) – This week, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) requested $5 million from the House Appropriations Committee for a Veterans Hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. 

“In South Texas, we all know how difficult it is for our veterans to get access to care – often needing to travel hundreds of miles for a doctor’s appointment,” said Hinojosa.  “It is my hope that the Appropriations Committee will see the validity and need of this request and work to provide veterans who loyally served their country with the healthcare services they deserve.”

Recent reports have revealed that more than 260,000 veterans applied to receive health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in fiscal year 2005 but were turned away because of cost cutting decisions to limit veterans’ access to VA hospitals, clinics and medications.  Congressman Hinojosa has also called on the Administration to seek adequate funding in FY 2007 to allow these veterans to get the care and medications they need at the VA. 

Since January 17, 2003, the Administration has barred access to VA care to new Priority 8 veterans – those who do not receive monetary compensation from VA for service-connected disabilities and whose incomes are above a national and geographic income threshold.  In 2005, the national income means threshold for a single veteran was $25,842. 

Data show that the VA turned away more than 19,000 Texas veterans (the second highest amount in the country behind Florida) who applied for VA health care in FY 2005 due to the enrollment ban. 

Congressman Hinojosa held a veterans health benefits enrollment fair earlier this month, and has two more planned in the next few months.  He will be working closely with other members of the Texas delegation and the Appropriations Committee to try and secure funding for a Veterans Hospital in the Rio Grande Valley.