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By:  Martinez (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa)                       H.C.R. No. 138
	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 16, 2005; 
May 17, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran 
Affairs and Military Installations; May 21, 2005, reported 
favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 21, 2005, sent 
to printer.)


HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

	WHEREAS, Our veterans who live in South Texas have served 
their country bravely and risked their lives to preserve our 
country's freedom and democracy, and their sacrifices in our behalf 
are deserving of a veterans hospital to meet their health care 
needs; and
	WHEREAS, Regrettably, South Texas currently lacks adequate 
health care resources for these proud men and women; the sole 
outpatient clinic in the eight-county area at the southern tip of 
Texas has limited hours of operation and must refer patients to 
other facilities for special tests or treatments; in addition, the 
nearest veterans hospital to the region with inpatient acute 
medical and surgical care and extended care is more than 250 miles 
away in San Antonio; and
	WHEREAS, Veterans in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy 
Counties alone number greater than 46,000, and a May 2004 report by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) acknowledged the need for 
improved and expanded medical facilities for veterans in South 
Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Despite this assessment, however, the DVA has 
planned only the addition of 10 contract beds in Harlingen's Valley 
Baptist Medical Center; and
	WHEREAS, Weslaco is located in the center of the Rio Grande 
Valley, less than one hour's drive from McAllen, Harlingen, and 
Brownsville, making it a convenient site for a hospital to serve the 
area's veterans; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
respectfully urge the Congress of the United States and the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to fulfill the department's goal of 
providing excellence in patient care by building a veterans 
hospital in Weslaco, Texas, to serve the more than 46,000 veterans 
in South Texas who have bravely defended and served our country; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to 
the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the 
senate of the United States Congress, to the secretary of veterans 
affairs, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to the 
congress with the request that this resolution be officially 
entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of 
the United States of America.



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