[StBernard] Baker Issues Letter of Inquiry to VA Secretary

[Westley Annis]

The News from Congressman Richard H. Baker
Sixth District, Louisiana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2007
CONTACT: Megan Bel, (202) 225-3901

Baker Issues Letter of Inquiry to VA Secretary 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, today released a letter urging Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson to provide detailed information regarding the criteria used in the selection of a preferred site for a new VA Hospital in Southeast Louisiana .   

The VA announced yesterday that the preferred site for a new VA Hospital is a location in downtown New Orleans , which consists of land owned by nearly 200 private property title-holders.  The VA Hospital in New Orleans served veterans in 23 South Louisiana Parishes, including all parishes in the 6th Congressional District. 

“When I brought the House Veterans Committee to New Orleans in July, the VA pledged to select a site based on what is best for veterans’ health care,” Baker said.  “I am asking the VA to explain their selection criteria to the veterans of Louisiana .  The health care needs of the veterans should be at the forefront of this discussion, and all other factors should be secondary.” 

"The VA has said they will make a final decision in December. I will continue to work to the best of my ability to keep the focus of this hospital on the veterans.” 

The text of the letter appears below. 

------------- 

The Honorable James Nicholson

Department Of Veterans Affairs 

810 Vermont Avenue, NW 

Washington , DC 20420 

Dear Secretary Nicholson: 

            First and foremost, thank you for announcing your preferred site yesterday for a new VA Hospital to be constructed in or near New Orleans .  I appreciate the progress we are making on the veterans’ hospital in Southeast Louisiana and look forward to making this hospital a reality for the men and women who have served our nation with honor. 

           As you know, my sole interest in the new VA Hospital, which will certainly serve future generations of veterans in Southeast Louisiana , is to ensure our government fulfills the promises made to our veterans.  The sacrifices that our veterans have given for this country and what we owe them for those sacrifices should not be subordinate to any other considerations.  Accordingly, I request the Department provide Louisiana veterans a detailed description of the following: 

*	Selection criteria used for determining downtown New Orleans as the preferred site, including all specific qualitative measures used to compare potential sites, any weight given to a particular measure, and input received directly from veterans; 
*	Comparative results and findings regarding the proposed sites and explanations regarding the process by which those results were derived; 
*	Timeline on construction for a new site, including information on how the preferred site is expected to be acquired; and 
*	Process for making a final determination on the preferred site. 

            Thank you for your timely attention to this matter.  I look forward to hearing from you soon and providing further information to our veterans.  Again, thank you for your work on behalf of Louisiana ’s veterans. 

                                                                                   Sincerely,

[signed] 
Richard H. Baker
Member of Congress  

-30- 

For more news about Congressman Baker, please visit 

www.baker.house.gov <http://www.baker.house.gov/>  


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