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March 26, 2009 · Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn wants to build a new Veteran’s Medical Center in the Rio Grande Valley. The new facility would give vets who live in rural areas of South Texas access to care without making the long drive to other VA hospitals. Out patient services at some facilities in the valley have been expanded, but Cornyn says it’s time to build a state of the art hospital.
"My hope would that we would be able to find some money amidst all the other money that we’re spending up here to help our veterans get access to healthcare where they live – so they would not have to suffer the indignity and the long travel –- particularly for people with chronic illnesses and the like to come to San Antonio to get health care,"said Cornyn.
Cornyn first introduced this bill in the last Congress with a price tag of 175 million dollars, but it didn’t pass. It did have the support of then Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He hopes those two will continue to advocate for the new facility in their new jobs with the executive branch.
"My hope is that President Obama in particular would continue to encourage the passage here in the House and Senate – but I have not yet had an opportunity to talk to him," said Cornyn.
Corpus Christi Democrat Solomon Ortiz has filed a companion bill in the House. Cornyn’s legislation must first be approved by the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee.
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