Congressional Delegation Urges Secretary McDonough To Visit New Mexico Veteran Health Clinics

NM Congressional Delegation Information:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) wrote a letter to U.S. Section of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary McDonough urging the Secretary to take a look at the Las Vegas or Raton veteran wellness clinics, two of the 4 clinics that the Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) advised for closure.

All four of the veteran health clinics suggested for closure in New Mexico are in rural areas of the condition. The delegation wrote to Secretary McDonough opposing the recommended closures launched in the VA’s Asset and Infrastructure Review report before this yr.

The lawmakers wrote:

“We fully grasp that you prepare to pay a visit to the Gallup veteran overall health clinic and we seem ahead to currently being there with you so you can listen to directly from those veterans. Even so, we consider it is necessary that you check out the clinics encouraged for closure exactly where the VA has not laid out an option approach for accessibility. The Las Vegas and Raton veteran well being clinics are two and three several hours absent from the most important VA Overall health Heart in Albuquerque.

“The veterans who employ these clinics specially questioned that you travel in their shoes so you can realize the distances they need to travel, normally although in discomfort for the reason that of their affliction. We understand that the Las Vegas and Raton veteran health and fitness clinics would add a important amount of money of time to your journey, but it is for that motive that we believe it is vital that you recognize the distance and topography of our condition. These veterans are basically asking you to do what closure would do to them.”

The comprehensive text of the letter:

Dear Secretary McDonough:

We seem ahead to your take a look at to New Mexico later on this thirty day period. We rely on you will get pleasure from traveling as a result of the point out and hearing from our veterans. Our point out is rich in cultural and pure range. A lot of locations, while, absence sufficient health and fitness treatment companies and consequently require touring good distances to obtain care. This is why we carry on to voice opposition to the suggested closures produced in the Asset and Infrastructure Review report previously this year. All four of the veteran well being clinics, formally regarded as Community Dependent Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), suggested for closure in New Mexico are in rural parts of the point out the place these problems use. Through your time in New Mexico, we urge you to check out the Las Vegas or Raton clinics, two of the 4 clinics that the Section of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed for closure.

Due to the fact the Asset and Infrastructure Assessment Commission released its report, we traveled to these clinics to meet up with with veterans and listen to their considerations. As they have proudly shared tales of service to our state, they have also shared heartbreaking fears of shedding entry to treatment. For the duration of a person of people visits, one particular veteran, Chris, mentioned, “Congress is swift to ship us to war, but when it arrives to well being treatment, the government is severely missing.” We also heard from household customers of veterans who discussed that over 50 percent of the veterans residing in New Mexico are in excess of 65 and rely on their cherished types to take time off do the job and help the veterans get to their appointments.

We have an understanding of that you prepare to stop by the Gallup veteran health and fitness clinic and we search ahead to currently being there with you so you can listen to specifically from these veterans. Nevertheless, we think it is crucial that you go to the clinics recommended for closure exactly where the VA has not laid out an alternate strategy for accessibility. The Las Vegas and Raton veteran wellness clinics are two and three hrs away from the key VA Wellness Center in Albuquerque. When serious weather conditions forces closure of highways, veterans may perhaps be a working day absent from entry to treatment.

The veterans who benefit from these clinics precisely asked that you vacation in their sneakers so you can recognize the distances they will have to vacation, often although in discomfort because of their affliction. We realize that the Las Vegas and Raton veteran well being clinics would include a sizeable amount of time to your travel, but it is for that rationale that we imagine it is vital that you fully grasp the distance and topography of our condition. These veterans are just inquiring you to do what closure would do to them.

Thank you for thinking about this slight amendment to your schedule.