Washington, DC - After confirming that U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had officially selected Athens as a site for one of only 25 new community VA care clinics across the country, 12th District Georgia Congressman John Barrow today issued the following statement applauding the news: 

"After too many broken promises and false starts, a new community-based VA outpatient clinic has finally been approved for Athens.  This is welcome news for veterans who for too long have had to travel to either Atlanta or Augusta for the medical care they were promised. 

"There are well over 700,000 veterans living in Georgia, with more coming home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan everyday.  For the benefit of those who have served, and for the benefit of the next generation of soldiers that will wear the uniform, it's critical the VA has the support it needs to meet the challenge of caring for all America's veterans."   

The Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet set an official opening date for the new facility, but did say that it hopes to be taking care of area patients by the end of the year. 

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Contact: Harper Lawson, (202) 225-2823

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