Cornyn Introduces Bill to Bring Inpatient Care Facility to South Texas Veterans

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to put a full-service inpatient health care facility in the South Texas VA Health Care Center in Harlingen, Texas.

"After all the sacrifices they have made, the thousands of veterans who call South Texas home deserve to see a local VA inpatient care facility become reality.
"The dedication these men and women have shown, and continue to show, to our country reaffirms my commitment to ensuring that veterans in South Texas have access to the highest quality of care."

This bill would expand the existing South Texas VA Health Care Center. It would require the VA Secretary to include in the VA's annual Strategic Capital Investment Planning process the resources necessary to expand the existing facility to provide inpatient capability for 50 beds, an urgent care center, and the capability to provide a full range of services to meet the needs of women veterans.

Additionally, it would designate the facility as the "Treto Garza South Texas Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Center," in honor of veterans' advocate Arturo "Treto" Garza, who fought to improve health care services for veterans in the Rio Grande Valley and who passed away on October 3, 2012.

Support for the bill:

"Today is a great day for all the veterans of the Rio Grande Valley, because Senator Cornyn has put out a bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that the South Texas VA Health Care Center in Harlingen includes a full inpatient health care facility. It's a great honor to see that the bill was named in my husband's name. Thank you, Senator Cornyn, for always being there for the veterans, and for keeping my husband's and many veterans' dream alive."
Irene Garza, wife of Treto Garza

"Our growing population of veterans in South Texas have given so much to our nation, and have continued to sacrifice their time, energy and health, having to travel more than six hours and hundreds of miles to receive acute medical care in San Antonio. I fully support the expansion of medical services to include a full-service inpatient health care facility in South Texas to provide our veterans with access to the proper and convenient health care they deserve."
Judge Ramon Garcia, Hidalgo County

"Senator Cornyn's commitment to South Texas is apparent in many ways, including with his efforts to provide an inpatient health care facility for veterans in the region. Our veterans deserve the absolute best, no matter where they are located, and the Senator's dedication to both that principle and this legislation is commendable."
Judge Carlos Cascos, Cameron County

"Our country is indebted to the courageous veterans of our armed services who have unselfishly given of themselves to protect our nation and safeguard our freedoms. Our South Texas heroes deserve proper health care that is accessible and geographically convenient. I fully support the expansion of the VA Health Care Center in Harlingen, Texas, to include a full-service inpatient health care facility."
Judge Eloy Vera, Starr County

"I personally wish to thank Senator John Cornyn for offering much needed legislation to bring full-service inpatient healthcare to our deserving South Texas veterans."
Mayor Richard Cortez, City of McAllen

"I strongly support the legislation to expand the VA Health Care and Surgical Center in Harlingen into a full VA hospital with inpatient and emergency care. We all applaud and are grateful to Senator Cornyn's continued efforts to bring this important facility to all of our very deserving veterans in the Rio Grande Valley and greater South Texas."
Mayor Chris Boswell, City of Harlingen

"The Veterans Alliance from the Rio Grande Valley would like to send you our endorsement for the Treto Garza VA Hospital Bill that is being proposed. The Veterans Alliance Executive Committee and its membership have closely reviewed the Bill and has approved its language with a few recommendations. Thank you for allowing our input, and we all think it's a great way to honor a dedicated veteran advocate such as Treto. We look forward in working together to pass this Bill."
The Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley

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