Political Quotes

“I want to thank the bill managers for accepting the amendment that I am offering today, along with Senator Fitzgerald, to encourage further sharing of health care facilities between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Navy in North Chicago, IL. The Illinois delegation has worked in a bipartisan manner for four years to encourage sharing between the North Chicago VA Medical Center and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center (NTC) because of the proximity of the medical facilities. The Navy's hospital is 1 rac{1}{2} ext{ miles from the North Chicago VA Medical Center, and the VA property adjoins Great Lakes NTC. The aim of the delegation was to keep the North Chicago VA Medical Center open, improve options for medical care for the Navy, improve training options for VA and Navy medical personnel, reduce costs, and improve access to health care for veterans and Department of Defense beneficiaries. The VA's process to consolidate veteran's health care facilities in the Chicago area allowed the North Chicago VA Medical Center to stay open, but with the proviso that more sharing between the VA and the Navy would take place. The Navy agreed to use the North Chicago VA Medical Center facilities as much as possible, in lieu of the Navy's outdated hospital, but renovation of a currently closed ward at the North Chicago VA Medical Center is required for a surgery suite, and the emergency and urgent care centers must be upgraded.”