71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 4135
 
                     House Joint Memorial 32
 
Sponsored by Representative NELSON
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Urges Congress to introduce and pass legislation to allow
veterans in Oregon to receive health care from health care
facilities other than Department of Veterans Affairs health care
facilities.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United
  States of America, in Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas Oregon has one of the nation's highest number of
veterans per capita; and
  Whereas approximately 393,000 veterans reside in Oregon; and
  Whereas there are only two Department of Veterans Affairs
hospitals, one Department of Veterans Affairs domiciliary and two
Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics in Oregon; and
  Whereas many veterans in Oregon reside a great distance from
the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility
and face the burdensome problem of having to travel long hours to
receive health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs health
care facility; and
  Whereas those veterans in Oregon who reside in close proximity
to a Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility often
encounter long wait times and other barriers to receiving health
care; and
  Whereas there are many other health care facilities located
throughout Oregon; and
  Whereas the ability of veterans in Oregon to receive health
care at other health care facilities closer to their homes will
increase access to health care for veterans; and
  Whereas the ability of veterans in Oregon to receive health
care at other health care facilities will reduce the wait times
and other barriers to receiving health care at the Department of
Veterans Affairs health care facilities and will increase access
to health care for veterans; and
  Whereas access is a part of quality health care and veterans in
Oregon deserve quality health care; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
 
  (1) The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged to
introduce and pass legislation to allow veterans in Oregon to
receive health care from health care facilities other than a
Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to each member of the
Oregon Congressional Delegation.
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