Re: VA FACILITIES-CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE FRIDAY

If this facilities closes Meeks and his colleagues in the House from Queens
County will all be looking for a job. The CARES Committee failed to notify
veterans throughout the County when it made a trip to the facility recently.
Something that s a violation of the Federal law. No stake-holders meeting
was scheduled for the leaders of veterans organizations and the users of the
facility to me with the CARES Committee -- they arrived like a bunch of low
life' and held a meeting with the VA staff. Among the recommendations were
to rebuild the facility and expand its operations into a medical center to
facilitate an estimated 96,000 veterans who reside in Queens County. The
issue is far from over -- a lot of people will profit from the sale of
government land and you rest-a-sure that if the is government land to be
sold the low life's who serve in Congress are going to benefit from it
whether or not facilities stays open.

Its an election year. Veterans have to learn not to take photo takes with
elected officials, regardless whether they are Republicans or Democrats.
Let them note you displeasure if they fail to keep facilities open and tell
everyone not to vote for them. Instead vote the out of office. With one
million plus veterans in New York State there is a way to let these so
called elected official know about your displeasure. Its the veterans of
the nation who can put these politicans on the unemployment line.
"Freedom Warrior " wrote in message
news:3f2afb53.16866544@news.cox-internet.com...
> A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the veterans.
> A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the NRA.
> It's not rocket science.
>
>
> VA FACILITIES-CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE FRIDAY
> (Marine Times online)
>
> By Rick Maze
> Times staff writer
>
> Veterans and politicians are bracing for an expected Friday
> announcement on the proposed closing or downsizing of veterans'
> medical facilities.
>
> An independent commission that has been studying the Department of
> Veterans Affairs health care system is expected to recommend closing
> seven or eight hospitals and downsizing a dozen others, according to
> congressional sources who have been briefed on the plan.
>
> Sources would not disclose which hospitals are endangered, but said
> the so-called CARES Commission has been looking at eliminating
> hospitals that are underused or in such a state of disrepair that
> renovation is impractical.
>
> In a June 4 letter updating VA employees about the hospital review
> process, Robert H. Roswell, VA's undersecretary for health, said,
> "Some of the buildings and land VA owns are not well suited to
> veterans' health care needs."
>
> The review process leading up to the recommendations is trying to take
> a "national perspective," Roswell said.
>
> "Change is never easy, but is often necessary to produce healthy
> improvements," he said.
>
> One lawmaker clearly worried is Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., who
> tried without success to get language attached to the 2004 veterans'
> appropriations bill preventing the St. Albans Veterans Facility in
> Queens, N.Y., from being closed. The 386-bed facilities provides
> inpatient and outpatient care, including extended care for veterans
> who cannot easily be placed in nursing homes. Meeks' amendment that
> would have prevented the hospital from being closed was defeated by
> voice vote July 25 during debate on the funding bill.
>
> Rep. James T. Walsh, R-N.Y., chairman of the appropriations
> subcommittee overseeing the VA budget, said he understands Meeks'
> concern. "Certainly we are all nervous about its impact upon our own
> veterans' medical centers," Walsh said. "This is of great concern to
> us."
>
> Walsh, however, said he opposed the amendment. "It would be wrong for
> us to step in on behalf of one center because all members have the
> same concern," Walsh said. "Any protection built into this bill for
> any specific facility would undermine the overall plan."
>
> VA officials said the hospital realignment announcement now scheduled
> for Friday already has been delayed once. It was supposed to happen
> July 15, but the commission asked for and received an extension,
> officials said. Officials cautioned that the Friday announcement could
> be delayed again, although they believe it would not be for more than
> a few days.
>

Corrections < >

"JASON A. KAATZ" wrote in message
news:khGWa.15516$gU6.1969312@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> If this facilities closes Meeks and his colleagues in the House from
Queens
> County will all be looking for a job. The CARES Committee failed to
notify
> veterans throughout the County when it made a trip to the facility
recently.
> Something that a violation of the Federal law. No stake-holders
meeting
> was scheduled for the leaders of veterans organizations and the users of
the
> facility to with the CARES Committee -- they arrived like a bunch
of low
> life's and held a meeting with the VA staff.

Among the recommendations rebuild the facility and
expand its operations into a medical center to facilitate an estimated
40,000 to 96,000 veterans who reside in Queens County. The issue is far from
over -- a lot of people will profit from the sale of government land and
you rest-a-sure that if there is government land to be sold the low life's
who serve in Congress are going to benefit from it whether or not facilities
stays open.
>
> Its an election year. Veterans have to learn not to take photo takes with
> elected officials, regardless whether they are Republicans or Democrats.
> Let them note you displeasure if they fail to keep facilities open and
tell
> everyone not to vote for them. Instead vote out of office. With
one
> million plus veterans in New York State there is a way to let these so
> called elected know about your displeasure. It's the veterans
of
> the nation who can put these politicans on the unemployment line.

It is interesting that only one Congressmen from Queens County attended the
meeting.



> "Freedom Warrior " wrote in message
> news:3f2afb53.16866544@news.cox-internet.com...
> > A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the veterans.
> > A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the NRA.
> > It's not rocket science.
> >
> >
> > VA FACILITIES-CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE FRIDAY
> > (Marine Times online)
> >
> > By Rick Maze
> > Times staff writer
> >
> > Veterans and politicians are bracing for an expected Friday
> > announcement on the proposed closing or downsizing of veterans'
> > medical facilities.
> >
> > An independent commission that has been studying the Department of
> > Veterans Affairs health care system is expected to recommend closing
> > seven or eight hospitals and downsizing a dozen others, according to
> > congressional sources who have been briefed on the plan.
> >
> > Sources would not disclose which hospitals are endangered, but said
> > the so-called CARES Commission has been looking at eliminating
> > hospitals that are underused or in such a state of disrepair that
> > renovation is impractical.
> >
> > In a June 4 letter updating VA employees about the hospital review
> > process, Robert H. Roswell, VA's undersecretary for health, said,
> > "Some of the buildings and land VA owns are not well suited to
> > veterans' health care needs."
> >
> > The review process leading up to the recommendations is trying to take
> > a "national perspective," Roswell said.
> >
> > "Change is never easy, but is often necessary to produce healthy
> > improvements," he said.
> >
> > One lawmaker clearly worried is Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., who
> > tried without success to get language attached to the 2004 veterans'
> > appropriations bill preventing the St. Albans Veterans Facility in
> > Queens, N.Y., from being closed. The 386-bed facilities provides
> > inpatient and outpatient care, including extended care for veterans
> > who cannot easily be placed in nursing homes. Meeks' amendment that
> > would have prevented the hospital from being closed was defeated by
> > voice vote July 25 during debate on the funding bill.
> >
> > Rep. James T. Walsh, R-N.Y., chairman of the appropriations
> > subcommittee overseeing the VA budget, said he understands Meeks'
> > concern. "Certainly we are all nervous about its impact upon our own
> > veterans' medical centers," Walsh said. "This is of great concern to
> > us."
> >
> > Walsh, however, said he opposed the amendment. "It would be wrong for
> > us to step in on behalf of one center because all members have the
> > same concern," Walsh said. "Any protection built into this bill for
> > any specific facility would undermine the overall plan."
> >
> > VA officials said the hospital realignment announcement now scheduled
> > for Friday already has been delayed once. It was supposed to happen
> > July 15, but the commission asked for and received an extension,
> > officials said. Officials cautioned that the Friday announcement could
> > be delayed again, although they believe it would not be for more than
> > a few days.
> >
>
>

We got word here in Washington that the VA at American Lake in Tacoma will
remain open and not closed. It was on the closure list at first. It would
have put a huge burden on the VA in Seattle which is already overloaded.
The VA in Spokane is still up in the air.

We have the hospital ship Mercy in berth here in Seattle for a few days and
they are taking on a big VA patient load for the VA. That's great. Keeps
the Navy medics on their toes too.

We also have a Community Based Clinic Program in which the University of
Washington Medical Clinics are taking VA patients as primary care cases. I
can get a same day appointment and the visits are pleasant as well. Not
rushed and procedures are ordered without delay. Hope it lasts until I move
to KC next year.


--
**Ask for email address before responding via email**
"JASON A. KAATZ" wrote in message
news:cTJWa.15530$gU6.2042405@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> Corrections < >
>
> "JASON A. KAATZ" wrote in message
> news:khGWa.15516$gU6.1969312@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> > If this facilities closes Meeks and his colleagues in the House from
> Queens
> > County will all be looking for a job. The CARES Committee failed to
> notify
> > veterans throughout the County when it made a trip to the facility
> recently.
> > Something that a violation of the Federal law. No stake-holders
> meeting
> > was scheduled for the leaders of veterans organizations and the users of
> the
> > facility to with the CARES Committee -- they arrived like a bunch
> of low
> > life's and held a meeting with the VA staff.
>
> Among the recommendations rebuild the facility and
> expand its operations into a medical center to facilitate an estimated
> 40,000 to 96,000 veterans who reside in Queens County. The issue is far
from
> over -- a lot of people will profit from the sale of government land and
> you rest-a-sure that if there is government land to be sold the low life's
> who serve in Congress are going to benefit from it whether or not
facilities
> stays open.
> >
> > Its an election year. Veterans have to learn not to take photo takes
with
> > elected officials, regardless whether they are Republicans or Democrats.
> > Let them note you displeasure if they fail to keep facilities open and
> tell
> > everyone not to vote for them. Instead vote out of office. With
> one
> > million plus veterans in New York State there is a way to let these so
> > called elected know about your displeasure. It's the
veterans
> of
> > the nation who can put these politicans on the unemployment line.
>
> It is interesting that only one Congressmen from Queens County attended
the
> meeting.
>
>
>
> > "Freedom Warrior " wrote in message
> > news:3f2afb53.16866544@news.cox-internet.com...
> > > A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the veterans.
> > > A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the NRA.
> > > It's not rocket science.
> > >
> > >
> > > VA FACILITIES-CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE FRIDAY
> > > (Marine Times online)
> > >
> > > By Rick Maze
> > > Times staff writer
> > >
> > > Veterans and politicians are bracing for an expected Friday
> > > announcement on the proposed closing or downsizing of veterans'
> > > medical facilities.
> > >
> > > An independent commission that has been studying the Department of
> > > Veterans Affairs health care system is expected to recommend closing
> > > seven or eight hospitals and downsizing a dozen others, according to
> > > congressional sources who have been briefed on the plan.
> > >
> > > Sources would not disclose which hospitals are endangered, but said
> > > the so-called CARES Commission has been looking at eliminating
> > > hospitals that are underused or in such a state of disrepair that
> > > renovation is impractical.
> > >
> > > In a June 4 letter updating VA employees about the hospital review
> > > process, Robert H. Roswell, VA's undersecretary for health, said,
> > > "Some of the buildings and land VA owns are not well suited to
> > > veterans' health care needs."
> > >
> > > The review process leading up to the recommendations is trying to take
> > > a "national perspective," Roswell said.
> > >
> > > "Change is never easy, but is often necessary to produce healthy
> > > improvements," he said.
> > >
> > > One lawmaker clearly worried is Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., who
> > > tried without success to get language attached to the 2004 veterans'
> > > appropriations bill preventing the St. Albans Veterans Facility in
> > > Queens, N.Y., from being closed. The 386-bed facilities provides
> > > inpatient and outpatient care, including extended care for veterans
> > > who cannot easily be placed in nursing homes. Meeks' amendment that
> > > would have prevented the hospital from being closed was defeated by
> > > voice vote July 25 during debate on the funding bill.
> > >
> > > Rep. James T. Walsh, R-N.Y., chairman of the appropriations
> > > subcommittee overseeing the VA budget, said he understands Meeks'
> > > concern. "Certainly we are all nervous about its impact upon our own
> > > veterans' medical centers," Walsh said. "This is of great concern to
> > > us."
> > >
> > > Walsh, however, said he opposed the amendment. "It would be wrong for
> > > us to step in on behalf of one center because all members have the
> > > same concern," Walsh said. "Any protection built into this bill for
> > > any specific facility would undermine the overall plan."
> > >
> > > VA officials said the hospital realignment announcement now scheduled
> > > for Friday already has been delayed once. It was supposed to happen
> > > July 15, but the commission asked for and received an extension,
> > > officials said. Officials cautioned that the Friday announcement could
> > > be delayed again, although they believe it would not be for more than
> > > a few days.
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

I don't know Sarge. I hear no one lives in Kansas.
You're a loner eh.

"©Old Sarge®2003?" wrote in message news:bggahb$gjk$0@pita.alt.net...
> We got word here in Washington that the VA at American Lake in Tacoma will
> remain open and not closed. It was on the closure list at first. It would
> have put a huge burden on the VA in Seattle which is already overloaded.
> The VA in Spokane is still up in the air.
>
> We have the hospital ship Mercy in berth here in Seattle for a few days and
> they are taking on a big VA patient load for the VA. That's great. Keeps
> the Navy medics on their toes too.
>
> We also have a Community Based Clinic Program in which the University of
> Washington Medical Clinics are taking VA patients as primary care cases. I
> can get a same day appointment and the visits are pleasant as well. Not
> rushed and procedures are ordered without delay. Hope it lasts until I move
> to KC next year.
>
>
> --
> **Ask for email address before responding via email**
> "JASON A. KAATZ" wrote in message
> news:cTJWa.15530$gU6.2042405@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> > Corrections < >
> >
> > "JASON A. KAATZ" wrote in message
> > news:khGWa.15516$gU6.1969312@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> > > If this facilities closes Meeks and his colleagues in the House from
> > Queens
> > > County will all be looking for a job. The CARES Committee failed to
> > notify
> > > veterans throughout the County when it made a trip to the facility
> > recently.
> > > Something that a violation of the Federal law. No stake-holders
> > meeting
> > > was scheduled for the leaders of veterans organizations and the users of
> > the
> > > facility to with the CARES Committee -- they arrived like a bunch
> > of low
> > > life's and held a meeting with the VA staff.
> >
> > Among the recommendations rebuild the facility and
> > expand its operations into a medical center to facilitate an estimated
> > 40,000 to 96,000 veterans who reside in Queens County. The issue is far
> from
> > over -- a lot of people will profit from the sale of government land and
> > you rest-a-sure that if there is government land to be sold the low life's
> > who serve in Congress are going to benefit from it whether or not
> facilities
> > stays open.
> > >
> > > Its an election year. Veterans have to learn not to take photo takes
> with
> > > elected officials, regardless whether they are Republicans or Democrats.
> > > Let them note you displeasure if they fail to keep facilities open and
> > tell
> > > everyone not to vote for them. Instead vote out of office. With
> > one
> > > million plus veterans in New York State there is a way to let these so
> > > called elected know about your displeasure. It's the
> veterans
> > of
> > > the nation who can put these politicans on the unemployment line.
> >
> > It is interesting that only one Congressmen from Queens County attended
> the
> > meeting.
> >
> >
> >
> > > "Freedom Warrior " wrote in message
> > > news:3f2afb53.16866544@news.cox-internet.com...
> > > > A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the veterans.
> > > > A vote FOR Bush now means a vote AGAINST the NRA.
> > > > It's not rocket science.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > VA FACILITIES-CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE FRIDAY
> > > > (Marine Times online)
> > > >
> > > > By Rick Maze
> > > > Times staff writer
> > > >
> > > > Veterans and politicians are bracing for an expected Friday
> > > > announcement on the proposed closing or downsizing of veterans'
> > > > medical facilities.
> > > >
> > > > An independent commission that has been studying the Department of
> > > > Veterans Affairs health care system is expected to recommend closing
> > > > seven or eight hospitals and downsizing a dozen others, according to
> > > > congressional sources who have been briefed on the plan.
> > > >
> > > > Sources would not disclose which hospitals are endangered, but said
> > > > the so-called CARES Commission has been looking at eliminating
> > > > hospitals that are underused or in such a state of disrepair that
> > > > renovation is impractical.
> > > >
> > > > In a June 4 letter updating VA employees about the hospital review
> > > > process, Robert H. Roswell, VA's undersecretary for health, said,
> > > > "Some of the buildings and land VA owns are not well suited to
> > > > veterans' health care needs."
> > > >
> > > > The review process leading up to the recommendations is trying to take
> > > > a "national perspective," Roswell said.
> > > >
> > > > "Change is never easy, but is often necessary to produce healthy
> > > > improvements," he said.
> > > >
> > > > One lawmaker clearly worried is Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., who
> > > > tried without success to get language attached to the 2004 veterans'
> > > > appropriations bill preventing the St. Albans Veterans Facility in
> > > > Queens, N.Y., from being closed. The 386-bed facilities provides
> > > > inpatient and outpatient care, including extended care for veterans
> > > > who cannot easily be placed in nursing homes. Meeks' amendment that
> > > > would have prevented the hospital from being closed was defeated by
> > > > voice vote July 25 during debate on the funding bill.
> > > >
> > > > Rep. James T. Walsh, R-N.Y., chairman of the appropriations
> > > > subcommittee overseeing the VA budget, said he understands Meeks'
> > > > concern. "Certainly we are all nervous about its impact upon our own
> > > > veterans' medical centers," Walsh said. "This is of great concern to
> > > > us."
> > > >
> > > > Walsh, however, said he opposed the amendment. "It would be wrong for
> > > > us to step in on behalf of one center because all members have the
> > > > same concern," Walsh said. "Any protection built into this bill for
> > > > any specific facility would undermine the overall plan."
> > > >
> > > > VA officials said the hospital realignment announcement now scheduled
> > > > for Friday already has been delayed once. It was supposed to happen
> > > > July 15, but the commission asked for and received an extension,
> > > > officials said. Officials cautioned that the Friday announcement could
> > > > be delayed again, although they believe it would not be for more than
> > > > a few days.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>