Our community has gathered once again to make signs in preparation for a rally and possible picketing at our VA. It feels like David vs. Goliath. Will we save our VA? Time will tell, but for now HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS! I have included a letter from one of the leaders for Save Our VA, together with the press release from Washington. I cannot say it better. For those of my readers who have followed our battle and/or read my book,
Reveille in Hot Springs: The Battle to Save our VA, join me in celebrating a victory for David (Hot Springs). If the Senate passes this, along with the president, we are looking good, and so are our veterans.
All,
Once again our Congressional leaders, this time Rep Noem has stood up for Hot Springs VA and the Veterans who use our facility. It is important for all of you to realize, they are doing this because it is the right thing to do.
Rep Noem, Sen Thune, and Sen Rounds have all visited our facility, and examined the information (lies) the VA has presented and the counter information (truths) the Save the VA committee has presented. They realize most of the Veterans who use the facility come from a impoverished area and out of our State, but they continue to fight for what is right.
Every time I begin to lose faith in the system and our great countries leadership, someone steps up and proves the battle is worth fighting.
Please take a moment of you time and thank Representative Kristi Noem for her efforts. It can’t be easy fighting for so many and being a State with only one member in the House of Representatives.
Don The Veteran
Subject: Noem Press Release: Noem Effort to Bar VA from Ending Hospital-Based Services at Hot Springs VA Hospital Passes House
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For Immediate Release
April 29, 2015
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Contact: 202.225.2801
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Noem Effort to Bar VA from Ending Services at Facilities Like the Hot Springs VA Hospital Passes House
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives tonight passed legislation that included a provision authored by Rep. Kristi Noem that would prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from ending or limiting hospital-based services at facilities like the Hot Springs VA Hospital.
Specifically, the amendment would bar the VA from ending, suspending, or relocating hospital-based services at a health care facility that is undergoing an Environmental Impact Statement, is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and is located in a highly rural area. The Hot Springs VA facility meets all of those criteria.
“There is a reason Hot Springs is called ‘The Veterans Town’ and I’m not going to stop fighting on their behalf,” said Noem. “The VA Hospital in Hot Springs has long provided critical care to South Dakota veterans. My amendment which was approved in the VA appropriations bill is pretty simple: it would prohibit the VA from spending money to shut down or limit services for rural veterans, including those who are treated in Hot Springs.”
Noem’s amendment was approved as part of the FY 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 255-163.
Noem has been fighting for years to save the Hot Springs VA hospital from closure. Last summer she brought House Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller to Hot Springs to hold a field hearing which helped highlight discrepancies in data that has been used by the VA as they have worked on their proposal to close the hospital. Earlier this year, Noem joined Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds in urging the VA secretary to remove plans to close the Hot Springs hospital from President Obama’s budget request.
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