Congressman Walz Lettter

03/23/2007

March 23, 2007

Dear Friends,

During the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to talk to numerous constituents, members of the press, veterans, and other members of Congress about the state of our military and Veterans Affairs health care system.

Although both systems have their problems, Minnesotans can be proud that the care provided in the VA facilities in our state is some of the best offered anywhere.

Shortly before the news reports broke about the substandard living conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, I went to Walter Reed to visit some soldiers from Minnesota. Even a quick tour of the facility revealed hallways crowded with equipment, temporary dividers partitioning overcrowded space, and a broken fire alarm that rang for an hour and a half.

Minnesota's VA facilities provide a stark contrast with Walter Reed, which is part of the Department of Defense medical system, not the VA.

Last week, I visited the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and found both patients and staff in good spirits. There is no doubt that military and VA health care systems need more resources to care for our soldiers, new veterans, and aging veterans, but I will do everything possible to make sure that our government provides those resources.

In addition to Walter Reed and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, I recently toured the Rochester VA clinic and in the coming months plan to visit the St. James Clinic, as well as VA facilities in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and LaCrosse, Wisconsin, which treat a substantial number of veterans from southern Minnesota. Listening to health care providers and the soldiers and veterans themselves is essential in order to help solve the problems with our military and VA hospitals.

If you would like to tell me about your experiences with the VA or the military health care system, please call or write me at the phone numbers or addresses listed above.

Best,

Tim Walz


Recent Action:

Congressional Art Scholarship Competition - This contest allows Minnesota to showcase the talent of its students. All First District high schools are welcome to submit one piece of artwork per grade level. The winning piece will be displayed in the hallways of the United States Capitol and the artist will receive a $5,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design. The second and third place submissions will hang in the district offices in Rochester and Mankato. Learn more about competing in the congressional art competition here.


Letter to Sec. Gates: Maintain Combat Status for Soldiers Serving in Kosovo - I am leading the charge to maintain combat status for the 400 Minnesota National Guard soldiers who will be called up this summer for a peace-keeping mission in Kosovo. The Department of Defense has considered reclassifying the mission as a "non-combat" operation, which would result in soldiers losing combat pay and a federal payroll tax exemption for soldiers serving in combat zones. I approached other House members when the news broke, and they were every bit as outraged as me. I'm pleased that so many members of the House joined me in sending a letter to the Secretary of Defense regarding this proposal.

National Effort on Energy - I am cosponsoring the Program for Real Energy Security (PROGRESS) Act, which will initiate a national effort to make America energy independent and advance our economic, national and environmental security. The focus of this bill is on transportation and how our country can move beyond our dependence on foreign oil. Read more about the PROGRESS Act here.

Military Academy Nominations - This week, the nomination process opened for high school students who are interested in attending a military academy. Military academies provide a challenging environment for our best and brightest students to begin their service to our country. While there are many ways to serve our country, I hope that students who are considering joining a branch of the Armed Services choose to apply for admission to one of our distinguished service academies. Learn about the application process here.