Veterans
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Our nation’s veterans have been willing to sacrifice everything to serve their country. Unfortunately, the federal government has not shown this same commitment and has broken its promises to these veterans. Congressman Hinojosa has worked to improve access to health care and other services for the veterans of South Texas and believes the US government should fulfill its obligations. In 2007, Congress increased the VA budget by $6.6 billion above the 2007 level, the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration.
The ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan is creating a new cadre of veterans who need variety of services. Congressman Hinojosa voted for the “Supporting Our Troops and Veterans Health Care Act” which includes $2.8 billion for Defense Health Care and adds $1.7 billion for veterans health care. The bill includes additional funding for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Counseling; burn care, and to repair the appalling conditions at Walter Reed Hospital. It also will stop health care fee increases, address the maintenance backlog at VA health care facilities, ensure sufficient personnel to address the rising number of veterans and to maintain a high level of service; allow the VA to contract with private mental healthcare providers to offer veterans, including Guard and reserve members, quality and timely care; and, speed claims processing for returning veterans.
For many years, the veterans in the 15th Congressional District had limited access to health care and were forced to travel to Audie Murphy Hospital in San Antonio for service. After bringing former Veterans Secretary Gober to visit South Texas, Congressman Hinojosa and the local veterans community were able to persuade the VA to expand outpatient services at the McAllen Veterans Clinic and to pay for most “in-patient” health care such as surgery in Rio Grande Valley hospitals. Congressman Hinojosa has worked with every subsequent VA Secretary to provide additional services in South Texas, such as the new Veterans Clinic in Harlingen.
In his continuing effort to bring a full-service VA hospital to South Texas, Congressman Hinojosa has held a series of enrollment fairs to increase the number of South Texas veterans using the current VA system. Increased use by every eligible veteran will help justify to the VA the need for a hospital in the region. In addition, he has cosponsored legislation to create a veteran’s hospital in the Rio Grande Valley and has brought Congressional leaders to see firsthand the challenges our veterans face in obtaining quality health care.
on this page: Latest News
Our nation’s veterans have been willing to sacrifice everything to serve their country. Unfortunately, the federal government has not shown this same commitment and has broken its promises to these veterans. Congressman Hinojosa has worked to improve access to health care and other services for the veterans of South Texas and believes the US government should fulfill its obligations. In 2007, Congress increased the VA budget by $6.6 billion above the 2007 level, the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration.
The ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan is creating a new cadre of veterans who need variety of services. Congressman Hinojosa voted for the “Supporting Our Troops and Veterans Health Care Act” which includes $2.8 billion for Defense Health Care and adds $1.7 billion for veterans health care. The bill includes additional funding for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Counseling; burn care, and to repair the appalling conditions at Walter Reed Hospital. It also will stop health care fee increases, address the maintenance backlog at VA health care facilities, ensure sufficient personnel to address the rising number of veterans and to maintain a high level of service; allow the VA to contract with private mental healthcare providers to offer veterans, including Guard and reserve members, quality and timely care; and, speed claims processing for returning veterans.
For many years, the veterans in the 15th Congressional District had limited access to health care and were forced to travel to Audie Murphy Hospital in San Antonio for service. After bringing former Veterans Secretary Gober to visit South Texas, Congressman Hinojosa and the local veterans community were able to persuade the VA to expand outpatient services at the McAllen Veterans Clinic and to pay for most “in-patient” health care such as surgery in Rio Grande Valley hospitals. Congressman Hinojosa has worked with every subsequent VA Secretary to provide additional services in South Texas, such as the new Veterans Clinic in Harlingen.
In his continuing effort to bring a full-service VA hospital to South Texas, Congressman Hinojosa has held a series of enrollment fairs to increase the number of South Texas veterans using the current VA system. Increased use by every eligible veteran will help justify to the VA the need for a hospital in the region. In addition, he has cosponsored legislation to create a veteran’s hospital in the Rio Grande Valley and has brought Congressional leaders to see firsthand the challenges our veterans face in obtaining quality health care.