With political support in South Texas continuing to build for Proposition 8 a state constitutional amendment designed to help construct a Veterans Affairs Hospital in deep South Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas is reminding President Obama of the presidents pledge to help make that goal a reality.
Proposition 8 which would authorize the state government to pool resources with the federal government to construct and maintain a VA Hospital in the Valley is one of 11 state constitutional amendments that will face Texas voters statewide on Tuesday November 3.
Early voting for Proposition 8 in Hidalgo County is going on from Monday October 19 through Friday October 30. Information on the times and locations of early voting substations is available by calling the Hidalgo County Elections Department at 956/784-VOTE (8683).
In a letter by Cornyn to Obama written on Thursday October 9 the Republican senator put Obama and the Democratically-controlled Congress on the spot to make good on then-Sen. Obamas promise to bring a VA Hospital to deep South Texas.
I was very pleased that as a member of the Senate in 2008 you cosponsored the South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act which I had introduced to bring desperately needed inpatient medical facilities to the Rio Grande Valley Cornyn noted. The Federal Government still fails to fully recognize the efforts and sacrifices of these brave Americans in defense of our country despite repeated requests to the VA for help and recent legislative efforts on this issue.
Last spring Cornyn reintroduced his legislation to build a Valley VA Hospital.
In his correspondence to the President Cornyn said he looked forward to your continued commitment to and support for these great Americans and their fight to get a new VA inpatient hospital in the Rio Grande Valley.
Cornyn also dismissed impressions being given by the VA Administration through its ongoing efforts to locally expand health care options to Valley veterans that the overwhelming majority of area veterans can now receive needed health care in South Texas.
Although the VAs recent efforts at bolstering access to quality medical services in South Texas have improved the situation we have a long way to go to provide adequate accessible inpatient care to the many veterans of the region Cornyn said. But these measures should not be the last steps for the long-term. These heroes deserve and their service demands that we do more to properly care for them when inpatient care is required.
County leaders endorse Proposition 8
Two days earlier on Tuesday October 6 the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court approved a resolution brought to them by the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley urging South Texans to vote for Proposition 8.
Rep. Ismael Kino Flores D-Palmview who joined the veterans group during the October 6 public meeting said Proposition 8 would be a direct mandate to the state government that it will work with the feds in providing whatever it takes to bring a VA Hospital down here.
Flores was the lead author last spring of the state legislation that put Proposition 8 on the November 3 ballot.
Rep. Armando Mando Martnez D-Weslaco Rep. Ryan Guillen D-Rio Grande City and Rep. David Leibowitz D-San Antonio also served as House authors of the Flores legislation.
Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa D-McAllen was the Senate sponsor of that measure while Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. D-Brownsville was a cosponsor of that House bill that led to Proposition 8.
Flores said the Valley legislators and local veteran groups were able to get Proposition 8 on the November statewide ballot without much help from the state House leadership.
We went through a lot to get to this point. This was not a priority for the state in the legislative session Flores recalled. It took a tremendous effort a tremendous fight from a lot of people involved.
Flores noted that state constitutional amendments traditionally have low-voter turnouts but when those ballot initiatives specifically affected the Valley South Texas voters have come through.
In the past Valley voters supported state constitutional amendments that brought multi-million dollar projects to the region including measures which Flores directly shaped that resulted in the June 2005 opening of the Alfredo Gonzlez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen and the December 2006 dedication of the Texas Veterans Cemetery in Mission.
Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas III acknowledged the work of area lawmakers and veterans but singled out Flores efforts on Proposition 8.
I know had it not been for you putting it on the front of your agenda there would never have been a proposition for Texans to vote on Salinas observed. For all the other issues that you have passed I congratulate you. Thank you for allowing our veterans to get a step closer to this hospital.
Members of the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley who also attended the October 6 meeting of the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court included: Max Belmares; Henry Bruenelle; Louise Bruenelle; Rubn Cant; Antonio Carmona; Mara Carmona; Udelia Corts; Emilio de los Santos; Mike Escobedo; Homer Gallegos; Emily Garza; Joe Garza; Nelda Garza; Prax Pete Garza; Treto Garza; Janie Hinojosa; Leo Hinojosa; Mike Mejia; Mrs. and Mrs. Hctor Mercado; Ray Molano; Rey Oropez; Lupe Pea; and Richard Pea.
Legislative Media reports on major legislation that affects South Texans. For more on this and other stories and photographs please log on to www.EdinburgPolitics.com
With political support in South Texas continuing to build for Proposition 8 a state constitutional amendment designed to help construct a Veterans Affairs Hospital in deep South Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas is reminding President Obama of the presidents pledge to help make that goal a reality.
Proposition 8 which would authorize the state government to pool resources with the federal government to construct and maintain a VA Hospital in the Valley is one of 11 state constitutional amendments that will face Texas voters statewide on Tuesday November 3.
Early voting for Proposition 8 in Hidalgo County is going on from Monday October 19 through Friday October 30. Information on the times and locations of early voting substations is available by calling the Hidalgo County Elections Department at 956/784-VOTE (8683).
In a letter by Cornyn to Obama written on Thursday October 9 the Republican senator put Obama and the Democratically-controlled Congress on the spot to make good on then-Sen. Obamas promise to bring a VA Hospital to deep South Texas.
I was very pleased that as a member of the Senate in 2008 you cosponsored the South Texas Veterans Access to Care Act which I had introduced to bring desperately needed inpatient medical facilities to the Rio Grande Valley Cornyn noted. The Federal Government still fails to fully recognize the efforts and sacrifices of these brave Americans in defense of our country despite repeated requests to the VA for help and recent legislative efforts on this issue.
Last spring Cornyn reintroduced his legislation to build a Valley VA Hospital.
In his correspondence to the President Cornyn said he looked forward to your continued commitment to and support for these great Americans and their fight to get a new VA inpatient hospital in the Rio Grande Valley.
Cornyn also dismissed impressions being given by the VA Administration through its ongoing efforts to locally expand health care options to Valley veterans that the overwhelming majority of area veterans can now receive needed health care in South Texas.
Although the VAs recent efforts at bolstering access to quality medical services in South Texas have improved the situation we have a long way to go to provide adequate accessible inpatient care to the many veterans of the region Cornyn said. But these measures should not be the last steps for the long-term. These heroes deserve and their service demands that we do more to properly care for them when inpatient care is required.
County leaders endorse Proposition 8
Two days earlier on Tuesday October 6 the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court approved a resolution brought to them by the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley urging South Texans to vote for Proposition 8.
Rep. Ismael Kino Flores D-Palmview who joined the veterans group during the October 6 public meeting said Proposition 8 would be a direct mandate to the state government that it will work with the feds in providing whatever it takes to bring a VA Hospital down here.
Flores was the lead author last spring of the state legislation that put Proposition 8 on the November 3 ballot.
Rep. Armando Mando Martnez D-Weslaco Rep. Ryan Guillen D-Rio Grande City and Rep. David Leibowitz D-San Antonio also served as House authors of the Flores legislation.
Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa D-McAllen was the Senate sponsor of that measure while Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. D-Brownsville was a cosponsor of that House bill that led to Proposition 8.
Flores said the Valley legislators and local veteran groups were able to get Proposition 8 on the November statewide ballot without much help from the state House leadership.
We went through a lot to get to this point. This was not a priority for the state in the legislative session Flores recalled. It took a tremendous effort a tremendous fight from a lot of people involved.
Flores noted that state constitutional amendments traditionally have low-voter turnouts but when those ballot initiatives specifically affected the Valley South Texas voters have come through.
In the past Valley voters supported state constitutional amendments that brought multi-million dollar projects to the region including measures which Flores directly shaped that resulted in the June 2005 opening of the Alfredo Gonzlez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen and the December 2006 dedication of the Texas Veterans Cemetery in Mission.
Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas III acknowledged the work of area lawmakers and veterans but singled out Flores efforts on Proposition 8.
I know had it not been for you putting it on the front of your agenda there would never have been a proposition for Texans to vote on Salinas observed. For all the other issues that you have passed I congratulate you. Thank you for allowing our veterans to get a step closer to this hospital.
Members of the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley who also attended the October 6 meeting of the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court included: Max Belmares; Henry Bruenelle; Louise Bruenelle; Rubn Cant; Antonio Carmona; Mara Carmona; Udelia Corts; Emilio de los Santos; Mike Escobedo; Homer Gallegos; Emily Garza; Joe Garza; Nelda Garza; Prax Pete Garza; Treto Garza; Janie Hinojosa; Leo Hinojosa; Mike Mejia; Mrs. and Mrs. Hctor Mercado; Ray Molano; Rey Oropez; Lupe Pea; and Richard Pea.
Legislative Media reports on major legislation that affects South Texans. For more on this and other stories and photographs please log on to www.EdinburgPolitics.com
