HR0413

LRB096 12970 DRJ 27050 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Currently only five Veterans Administration 
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hospitals operate in Illinois, including the Jesse Brown VA 
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Medical Center in Chicago, the VA Illiana Health Care System in 
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Danville, the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, the 
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Marion VA Medical Center in Marion, and the North Chicago VA 
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Medical Center in North Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, An additional 14 outpatient clinics serve 
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Illinois veterans, including the Aurora Clinic, the Auburn 
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Gresham and Lakeside clinics in Chicago, the Chicago Heights 
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Clinic, the Elgin Clinic, the Evanston Clinic, the Freeport 
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Clinic, the Oak Park Clinic in Hines, the Joliet Clinic, the 
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LaSalle Clinic, the Manteno Clinic, the McHenry Clinic, the Oak 
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Lawn Clinic, and the Rockford Clinic; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Only eight community-based outpatient clinics 
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serve the remainder of Illinois veterans, including the 
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Belleville Clinic, the Decatur VA Outpatient Clinic, the 
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Effingham Community Based Outpatient Clinic, the Galesburg VA 
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Clinic, the Mt. Vernon Community Based Outpatient Clinic, the 
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Bob Michel VA Outpatient Clinic in Peoria, the Quincy VA 
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Clinic, and the Springfield VA Outpatient Clinic; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Our nation's veterans deserve to expect that their 
 


 






HR0413
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LRB096 12970 DRJ 27050 r




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post-service needs will be addressed, particularly when 
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involving their health and welfare; and, moreover, in tough 
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economic times it is especially important to avoid budget cuts 
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affecting the quality of care our veterans receive; and


 
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    WHEREAS, While grateful for the medical facilities already 
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located throughout Illinois, veterans of this State express 
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concerns regarding the lack of a centrally located Veterans 
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Administration hospital in the State; and the Director of the 
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Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs agrees, citing that no 
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medical facility for our State's veterans in the central part 
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of Illinois is a problem; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge Congress to promulgate the establishment of a Central 
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Illinois VA hospital in Peoria; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to the Honorable Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of the 
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and to each member of the 
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Illinois congressional delegation.