From his first day in Congress, Bill has fought to ensure that the federal government honors its commitments to all of those who have bravely served our nation. Bill's vocal advocacy for the rights of our veterans to receive the finest health care in the world only grows stronger every year.
After years of fighting for its construction, Bill was thrilled to announce the opening of the first ever veterans' outpatient clinic in Passaic County in a moving ceremony in August 2004. The Paterson-based clinic currently serves over 30,000 veterans in the area, providing primary care services such as preventive health screening, and lab and health education for acute and chronic medical conditions. Since the clinic's opening, long waiting times for health care have been eliminated, and Passaic County veterans no longer have to compete with fellow vets to receive the top flight medical care that they need and deserve.
Although the clinic opening was a monumental victory, it was only the beginning of Bill's work to defend veterans' rights. Bill holds an annual veterans' registration drive to provide health care screenings and to sign up hundreds of vets for the benefits they have earned. He consults with an advisory board of local veterans each year, allowing him to conduct one-on-one discussions about the most vital needs of veterans in Essex and Passaic Counties.
Bill Pascrell will continue to advance the cause of legislation that improves the lives of our nation's heroes. He will fight tirelessly to pass a law requiring mandatory funding for veterans health care. Every day that he is in office, Bill works to give back to our veterans a tiny measure of the boundless gifts that they have given to all of us.