HR 1318
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1318
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Far South Texas, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 1, 2011
Mr. CUELLAR (for himself, Mr. HINOJOSA, and Mr. FARENTHOLD) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Department
of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Far South Texas, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `South Texas Veterans Health Care Expansion Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The current and future health care needs of veterans residing in the
Far South Texas area are not being fully met by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that more than 117,000
veterans reside in Far South Texas.
(3) The 2010 census identified Far South Texas as the fastest growing region
in the State of Texas. According to figures obtained from the United States
Army Accessions Command, Texas is the number one source of military recruits
among all States. Texas is also the largest provider of National Guard and
Reserve members to current overseas military deployments. These factors
make it a certainty that the veteran population in Far South Texas will
increase substantially in the coming years.
(4) In its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services study, the Department
of Veterans Affairs found that fewer than three percent of its enrollees
in the Valley-Coastal Bend Market of Veterans Integrated Service Network
17 reside within its acute hospital access standards.
(5) Travel times for veterans from the market referred to in paragraph (3)
can exceed six hours from their residences to the nearest Department of
Veterans Affairs hospital for acute inpatient health care.
(6) Even with the significant travel times, veterans from Far South Texas
demonstrate a high demand for health care services from the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(7) Current deployments involving members of the Texas National Guard and
Reservists from Texas will continue to increase demand for medical services
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY IN FAR SOUTH TEXAS.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include in the Strategic
Capital Investment Plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs a project to
expand the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Far South Texas,
by adding to the facility the following:
(1) An urgent care center.
(2) Inpatient capability for 50 beds with appropriate administrative, clinical,
diagnostic, and ancillary services needed for support.
(3) The capability to provide a full range of services to meet the need
of female veterans.
(4) The capability to provide caregiver support services, including an adult
day care providing caregiver respite.
(b) Report- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report identifying and
outlining the detailed estimate of the cost of and time necessary for completion
of the project authorized under subsection (a).
(c) Definition- For purposes of this Act, the term `Far South Texas' means
the following counties of the State of Texas: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun,
Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Goliad, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells,
Kennedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Willacy,
and Zapata.
END
