WASHINGTON, D.C. – Veterans from Sussex County and surrounding areas of northwest New Jersey will soon have another location to receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11).  The VA says it now expects to open a Community Based Outpatient health care Clinic (CBOC) in Newton on January 9 at 222 High Street.  A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled shortly thereafter.

“For over two years, I have been working with my Congressional colleagues, Sussex Freeholders, state legislators and veterans leaders to bring greater access to health care to veterans in Sussex County by convincing the VA to establish a community health clinic,” said Frelinghuysen. “Of course, there have been bureaucratic obstacles along the way, but we would not back down in our efforts to get VA to do its job to serve those who have served us in uniform.”

The Newton clinic will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Previously, Frelinghuysen was instrumental in the establishment of a veterans outpatient clinic in Morris Township.  The VA's New Jersey Health Care System consists of two main “campuses" in East Orange and Lyons in Bernards Township with additional satellite clinics in Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hamilton, Jersey City, Paterson, Piscataway and Tinton Falls. Many veterans from Sussex County now use the Morris Township clinic - more than an hour's drive from parts of the county.

Financial support for the Sussex CBOC will be provided through the annual Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill drafted by Frelinghuysen’s House Appropriations Committee.  This legislation provides advanced funding for veterans health care, fully funds veterans’ benefits and programs and contains the dollars to house, train, and equip military personnel, provide housing and services to our troops’ families, and help maintain military base infrastructure.

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