For many rural veterans, access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and treatment is complicated and time consuming. Due to the distances veterans must travel to seek care, along with long wait times, many patients delay or simply choose not to obtain the necessary care.
Veterans living in rural areas deserve comparable access to care as those living in urban settings. Because of the impact of this issue on thousands of veterans in the Third District of Nebraska, recently I joined six of my colleagues in Congress in sending a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. This letter expresses concerns regarding the VA's proposal to close inpatient and nursing home units, operating rooms, and urgent care facilities in Hot Springs, South Dakota. The letter also requests the VA returns the Hot Springs campus to former levels of operations and staff.
In addition, I joined the Nebraska delegation in writing Secretary Shinseki in support of the Omaha VA hospital. This letter expresses concern for the dire condition of the hospital and the low priority the VA is placing on building a replacement facility. The letter also encourages the VA to have a valid and viable plan in place for Omaha to ensure the care, treatment, and safety of Nebraska's veterans.
As founder and co-chair of the congressional Rural Veterans Caucus, rest assured addressing the challenges facing veterans in rural communities will remain a top priority. For more information on these issues or to receive additional legislative updates, please visit http://adriansmith.house.gov.
Sincerely,
ADRIAN SMITH
Member of Congress
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