(Washington, DC)  – Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D. (R-South Louisiana), released the following statement after sending a letter to the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Secretary Eric Shinseki, outlining grievances of local veterans in South Louisiana:

“Veterans in South Louisiana continue to experience frustrations brought on by the VA’s incompetence and lack of communication. This behavior has led to avoidable delays regarding the opening of the South Louisiana Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. Now there are discrepancies surrounding information VA officials give to local veterans receiving treatment, the deadline date for the Solicitation for Offers, and the final ‘net usable’ square footage for a clinic. As you can imagine, the veterans have grave concerns on all of these issues and need clarity moving forward. 

“This letter outlines the grievances brought to my attention and I seek detailed answers on these matters directly from Secretary Shinseki. In addition, I’ve repeated my request for the Secretary to meet with local veterans to discuss promised completion of the clinics. The habitual ineffectiveness of the VA to communicate with the veterans of South Louisiana will not be tolerated by my office. Our nation owes veterans a debt of gratitude not broken promises.”

###

Boustany is the leading advocate for veterans’ healthcare regarding the upgrade of clinics in Lake Charles and Lafayette and will continue to advocate for those who fought on behalf of this country.