Jerry McNerney's website

Contra Costa Times: Law would help veterans homeowners

Lisa Vorderbrueggen wrote about Congressman McNerney’s efforts to help veterans who face exploding monthly payments on adjustable rate mortgages or the prospect of foreclosure keep their homes.

From the Contra Costa Times:

Military veteran homeowners struggling under the weight of rising subprime mortgage payments could see a rise in the federally backed refinance loan cap in legislation that passed out of a congressional committee this week.

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, wrote an amendment to the Helping Our Veterans Keep Their Homes Act of 2008 that would increase the existing $144,000 loan cap to $729,750.

The lower figure is useless in Northern California, especially in the Bay Area where housing prices are among the highest in the nation.

"We have heard complaints about the low, $144,00 figure in the past, but now, it's a crisis," McNerney said. "We had bipartisan support for the legislation in the subcommittee, and I can't imagine why anyone would oppose it."

Click here to read the full story from the Contra Costa Times.

Tracy Press agrees with McNerney: "Forget politics; vets deserve retreat clinic"

Despite long odds, Congressman Jerry McNerney is committed to doing everything he can to save the Livermore VA hospital from closure: 

Livermore’s 115-acre VA Medical Center, with its hospital and nursing home, is almost certain to close because of the federal VA department’s budgeting problems. But McNerney is pushing to keep the center open to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric illnesses faced by veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We hope to use it as a residence for veterans that might need some time to adjust to PTSD," McNerney said in a telephone interview Monday.

But Nicholson, who is the subject of a lawsuit brought by disabled veterans and who has submitted his resignation and will leave his post Oct. 1, is not committing himself to the idea.

"We did go meet with Secretary Nicholson, and he seemed interested in our ideas and suggestions, but he didn’t commit to anything," McNerney said. "He seemed genuinely concerned."

Meanwhile, in an editorial, the Tracy Press recognizes that politics might play a role in whether or not the Livermore facility stays open:

If it hasn’t already, Karl Rove-style White House politics is about to bite Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton. The victim might be the Livermore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which the Pleasanton Democrat has campaigned hard to keep open, even if with a different mission.

In an attempt to win back the House for the Republicans in 2008, Rove, the senior adviser to President Bush, has been charting the vulnerabilities of House Democrats. McNerney, a freshman representative who upset seven-term Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, last fall, is No. 2 on the hit list of 36.

Opinion leaders across the political spectrum recognize that the Livermore facility is the perfect location to treat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Press argues that no matter what side of the political aisle you stand on, devoting the VA to this unique mission is the right thing to do:

Politics should be removed from the decision of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson or his successor. There are an estimated 320,000 to 800,000 veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who might seek treatment for combat disabilities, about one-third of them with psychological symptoms. For example, of the 229,015 veterans who sought VA care from 2002 through 2006, 83,889 were diagnosed with a mental disorder, including PSTD, drug abuse or depression.

Based on these statistics, Nicholson announced last week that more psychologists and social workers would be added and the number of drop-in treatments clinics expanded from 209 to 232. The Livermore VA facility should be such a drop-in clinic as well as an extended care center for the more severe patients who have served our nation with valor.

To remove partisan politics from this critical veterans issue, we encourage any and all Republican candidates in the 2008 11th House District race to support this new mission for the Livermore VA Medical Center.

To read more complete coverage of Congressman McNerney's months-long effort to save the Livermore VA from closure, please click here.

NBC11: McNerney fights to save Livermore VA

NOTE: James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, resigned today.

From NBC11:

Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, met with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Nicholson last week to discuss the possibility of opening an inpatient psychiatric facility at the Livermore Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.

Andy Stone, communications director for McNerney's office, said Tuesday that Nicholson has expressed interest in the idea and would likely make a decision on the proposal soon.

McNerney envisions a facility that would provide patients with a peaceful refuge in which to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, according to a letter he sent to Nicholson.

According to a the U.S. Department of Defense's Task Force on Mental Health, the two illnesses are the "signature injuries" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The task force reported that more recent data indicated that 38 percent of U.S. Army soldiers, 31 percent of U.S. Marines and 49 percent of members of the U.S. National Guard reported experiencing psychological symptoms after combat deployment. Psychological concerns are also significantly higher among service members who are repeatedly deployed, a rapidly growing number of military personnel, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the Livermore hospital, which "sits on a peaceful, serene hillside nestled in the foothills to the south of Livermore," according to McNerney, has been slated for closure.

The Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services commission recommended in 2004 that the 30-bed facility be moved to Palo Alto.

The commission, which was working under former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, recommended that the 150-bed nursing home facility, however, remain open.

For background on Congressman McNerney's efforts to keep the Livermore facility open (as well as other blog posts related to Veterans Affairs), click here.

Tracy Press backs McNerney on Livermore VA and French Camp clinic

The Tracy Press has joined the list of major newspapers serving residents of the 11th Congressional District in praising Congressman Jerry McNerney's effort to save the Livermore VA from closure and expand its services to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder:

... the Pleasanton Democrat has set himself apart by continuing a crusade to provide the best medical and psychological care for servicemen and -women returning from battle. One aspect is keeping the Livermore Veterans Affairs Medical Center open; it’s proposed to be closed with a new VA medical clinic built in French Camp or Stanislaus County.

[...]

The pastoral setting of the campus in southern Livermore is picture-perfect for medical and psychological treatment for veterans shocked by the horrors of war. It has a 120-bed hospital for long-term care and 30 beds for sub-acute inpatients.

The Press also expresses support for expanding services at the French Camp clinic.

This opportunity for PTSD care should not preclude the VA from maintaining clinical services at its quarter-century-old hospital/clinic in Livermore. Also deserving of similar services is the Central Valley where, because of home prices, more returning soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen are living. It makes sense to expand the French Camp VA clinic that is a neighbor to San Joaquin General Hospital so northern San Joaquin Valley veterans can have comprehensive treatment without driving over the Altamont Pass. This care should include nursing home beds.

Are there enough medical and mental health patients and enough budgetary patience from the government panel considering realignment of VA facilities to have VA hospitals in Livermore and French Camp? There are if Livermore becomes the western mental health center for veterans who return with PTSD and French Camp assumes more of the Livermore VA hospital’s traditional role.

This editorial follows other supportive editorials in the Contra Costa Times, Stockton Record, The Argus, and the San Jose Mercury News.

As support grows for Congressman McNerney's proposals, veterans are watching to see if Secretary James Nicholson will do the right thing. Stay tuned to this blog for the news or read previous posts about Veterans Affairs issues here.

Mercury News joins Record, Times and Argus in supporting McNerney on Livermore VA

Four regional newspapers have now gone on record supporting Congressman Jerry McNerney's proposal to save the Livermore VA hospital by expanding its services to veterans suffering from post-traumatic disorder.

First, the Contra Costa Times took the lead. Then the Stockton Record went on the record. The Argus (of Fremont) chimed in with their support late last week.

And now the latest paper to get behind the Congressman's plan is the San Jose Mercury News, which serves readers in Morgan Hill and has the largest circulation in Northern California. The Merc laid out the case for why keeping the Livermore VA open is the right thing to do:

The open-ended nature of our two Middle East wars, not to mention the longer-term war on terror, means the VA must re-evaluate its needs for the next several decades, including a careful re-examination of the notion of closing Livermore's 115-acre VA hospital.

Four years ago, we concurred with the VA report urging the closure of seven VA hospitals, including Livermore, believing that unusually high costs of operating those facilities should be redirected into building more outpatient clinics throughout the region. We remain alarmed that a General Accounting Office report found the VA spends one out of every four dollars on maintaining and operating outdated medical buildings and grounds.

But the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have gone on far longer and produced far more casualties than expected. The influx of 420,000 PTSD patients will put servere strains on the VA system without a corresponding increase in budget, staff and facilities to meet injured veterans' needs.

The chorus of mainstream media opinion leadership is getting louder. So, when will Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson do the right thing? Stay tuned...

Pleasanton Weekly: "Hundreds turn out for Memorial Day ceremonies..."

Congressman Jerry McNerney joined Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and hundreds of citizens to a historic cemetary in Pleasanton on Memorial Day to honor those who have given their lives in service to our nation.

The Tri-Valley Herald recognized the context of this year's Memorial Day:

Against a backdrop of fluttering American flags and the serenity of Pleasanton's Memorial Gardens, somber words and thoughts went out Monday to the men and women fighting overseas.

The deadly conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan leant solemnity to this Memorial Day ceremony, one of several held in the East Bay.

The event drew over 200 people, according to the Pleasanton Weekly:

Calling this "a very difficult time for our country," Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) nevertheless praised soldiers serving in the Middle East and other parts of the world and their families in brief remarks that he gave Monday at Memorial Day ceremonies in the Pleasanton Memorial Gardens cemetery.

"Our nation is very proud of their accomplishments and what they have given us and what they have shown the world about freedom," McNerney said. "We also need to give a special recognition to the families of those young men and women. These families are sacrificing more than us, more than the rest of us can even imagine. Our nation will honor you and your sacrifice and your loved ones forever."

If you haven't read Congressman McNerney's blog post on Memorial Day, please click here.

On this Memorial Day: One Nation, One Moment, One Action

Today is Memorial Day, a time to recognize and honor the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation for over two centuries, from the American Revolution to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While this day is always a solemn national event, I know many Americans are feeling a profound sense of pain on this particular Memorial Day. The thoughts and feelings you have expressed to me about how to support our troops in this time of war -- in-person at my “Congress At Your Corner” events, by phone, through email, or in the hundreds of comments on my blog -- is a reflection of that deep sentiment.

While our country may be divided about how best to support our troops in these conflicts abroad, this day is about uniting to remember those who have given their all to our nation.

Today, you can join millions of your fellow Americans in reconciliation and respect by observing the “National Moment of Remembrance,” a national minute of silence at 3 p.m. local time. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada says, this is “a way we can all help put the ‘memorial’ back in Memorial Day.”

We have a duty as Americans to remember the people who have sacrificed for our country. And, we also have a duty to take care of returning veterans whose body, mind or spirit may be wounded in the conflicts they fight abroad. That’s why I’ve recently led the effort to pass legislation that will significantly increase funding and research into Traumatic Brain Injury (or “TBI”), often caused by roadside bomb explosions.

Last year, I asked you on Memorial Day to financially support a grassroots organization called “Operation Helmet,” which provided special blast-protective headgear to troops in combat to prevent TBI. Your generosity -- and the response by thousands of other Americans -- was so profound that Operation Helmet recently announced that it no longer needed to solicit donations.

This year, no matter your feelings about the war, I want to ask you to join together again in collective action to heal our soldiers and our nation. Bob Woodruff, the former ABC News anchor who suffered a serious brain injury after a roadside bomb explosion last year, has founded the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury to help soldiers suffering from TBI to receive cognitive rehabilitation.

http://www.bobwoodrufffamilyfund.org/

On behalf of all the veterans who continue to suffer the ill effects of these horrific injuries, today I would like you to seriously consider making a contribution of whatever amount you can afford to the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

Rest assured that contributions to the Woodruff Family Fund will actually go to the cause of caring for our veterans. When you click the “Donations” link at the web site above, you will be redirected to the Brain Injury Association of America. Under the section “Program Area," please click the scroll bar to select “Bob Woodruff Family Fund for TBI” as the recipient of your donation.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important request on this solemn day.

Sincerely,

P.S. Many of you have recently asked me how we can save the veterans hospital facility in Livermore from closing due to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs federal budget cutbacks. Rest assured that I will continue to focus my energy on keeping the Livermore VA hospital open and potentially expand its services to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

With growing support for my PTSD proposal for Livermore from major newspapers across our region, there is a growing consensus that keeping the Livermore VA open and reshaping its mission would be in the best interests of our veterans. You can read those newspapers editorials and other posts on my efforts to keep the Livermore VA open by clicking here to read the “Veterans Affairs” section of my campaign blog.

The Argus: McNerney's proposal "makes sense"

First, the Contra Costa Times stepped up. Then the Stockton Record added their support. And now The Argus (of Fremont) is praising Congressman Jerry McNerney's proposal to not only keep the Livermore VA hospital open -- but expand it to serve veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder:

Rep. Jerry McNerney has made a proposal to Veterans Affairs officials in Washington that makes sense for both troubled VA bureaucrats concerned about the quality and quantity of mental health care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the freshman congressman's constituents.

The Argus goes one step further than the Times and Record by advocating that other congressional members recognize the importance of expanding the Livermore facility:

The first-term lawmaker's proposal is a viable, well-timed alternative to our failure to provide adequate mental health care, which we've traditionally fallen short on during and in the aftermath of our nation's wars. It has sufficient validity that the entire California congressional delegation — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should get behind it.

We trust McNerney will pursue his goal in upcoming conversations with VA Secretary James Nicholson. And, considering the need for more and better mental health care for veterans, Nicholson would do well to adopt the congressman's proposal.

We couldn't agree more, of course. Now, with a local consensus building in support of Congressman McNerney's proposal, will Secretary Nicholson do the right thing?

Stockton Record editorial: "McNerney is doing the right thing"

With the Livermore VA hospital decision pending, local newspapers across the 11th Congressional District are recognizing the consequences to local veterans if the facility closes and the importance of Congressman Jerry McNerney's efforts to keep it open.

Following in the footsteps of the Contra Costa Times, the Stockton Record published an editorial today recognizing that Secretary James Nicholson would be "wise to consider McNerney's proposal" to expand Livermore's services to include post-traumatic stress disorder:

McNerney already has introduced legislation to create a special VA committee to focus on traumatic brain injury.

Now he's asking for reconsideration of the Livermore center's scope so it can provide treatment for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffering from head and brain trauma.

Whether Livermore stays open or not, McNerney is doing the right thing.

Going one step further, the Record editorial writers draw an interesting comparison:

There has been a great deal of patriotic rhetoric about the United States' military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq and the ongoing global war on terrorism.

That same sense of loyalty also requires that we provide the best medical facilities in the world for returning veterans. McNerney's proposal would help fulfill that obligation.

Congressman McNerney, the Stockton Record, and the Contra Costa Times all agree -- now it's up to Secretary Nicholson to do the right thing.

Click here to read the full Stockton Record editorial.

Contra Costa Times editorial supports McNerney: "It would be an insult" to close VA hospital

On Monday, the Contra Costa Times editorial board stepped up to support Congressman Jerry McNerney's effort to not only keep the Livermore veterans hospital open -- but to expand the facility to care for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder.

As the Times editors wrote:

He has a good argument.

After more than four years of war in Iraq, there are a large number of injured veterans in need of medical attention. Even more pressing is the huge number of veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

It has been estimated that 15 percent to 30 percent of the 1.4 million military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan will suffer from PTSD and will need help in VA facilities.

With a decision on the Livermore facility "imminent" according to Congressman McNerney, the Times is encouraging Secretary Nicholson to follow the Congressman's proposal:

However, with the growing number of veterans in need of services, we urge Nicholson's department to keep the Livermore facility open.

It would be an insult to the men and women who have sacrificed so much in war zones to be denied the best medical service in VA hospitals and clinics close to where they live.

We couldn't agree more, of course.

Congressman McNerney has visited the Livermore hospital multiple times, often with "Veterans for McNerney" supporters like Lt. Col. Bill Evans, talking with many of the veterans who would be most harmed by the facility's closure. As they told Jerry and have expressed to the VA at public hearings on the issue, keeping this hospital open is vitally important to veterans across the region.

Now it's up to Secretary Nicholson to do the right thing.

To see aerial photos of the Livermore facility, check out eLivermore.com's Livermore History page.

Against the odds, Congressman McNerney fights for Livermore VA hospital expansion

Since being sworn into office in January, Congressman Jerry McNerney has devoted a great deal of his time to addressing the care and treatment of our nation's military veterans.

As many of you know from reading this blog, the Congressman -- a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee -- is deeply concerned about the VA's impending decision to possibly close the veterans hospital in Livermore.

With signs increasing that VA Secretary James Nicholson will soon move to close the facility, Congressman McNerney sent a letter to Nicholson last week in an effort to spare the hospital from the budget chopping block -- and instead suggested an expansion of the facility to treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder:

"I've been thinking of this before I was even elected," McNerney said of a new post-traumatic stress disorder clinic on Livermore's campus. "It's such a quiet, peaceful place, it would be perfect."

[...]

McNerney's plan has sparked enthusiasm and optimism among some veterans. "It would make sense to have something like that out there for the soldiers coming home from the Middle East," said Les McDonald, a 74-year-old veteran from Livermore who has attended meetings on the future of the Livermore VA facility. "That is the prefect place for veterans suffering from that to go."

The situation is coming to a head, according to a San Jose Mercury News article highlighting McNerney's effort:

McNerney said he believes a decision to shutter the facility is "imminent," based on his conversations with patients who have been directed toward other VA clinics.

"I believe one of the ways we can meet the needs of our veterans is to maintain and perhaps expand services offered at the Livermore VAMC," McNerney wrote.

"With the creation of a new generation of veterans increasingly afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder, I believe we must not only maintain services at the Livermore VAMC and French Camp Outpatient Clinic, but also expand the services offered to meet the need for PTSD-specific treatment," he wrote.

"The Livermore facility, with its tranquil and relaxing setting, provides the perfect location for the type of treatment PTSD sufferers require," he said.

There is still hope that the Livermore facility will be saved, as the Tri-Valley Herald reported:

McNerney said he hopes to sit down with Nicholson in the next few weeks — before any final decision on Livermore is rendered — to discuss keeping open the facility. The VA had originally forecast a decision on the future of the Livermore site would likely be made by late spring or early summer.

Nevertheless, McNerney said after a discussion with Nicholson at House Veterans' Affairs Committee meeting last week, he feels the secretary is willing to listen and find ways to better serve the needs of our nation's veterans.

"It's unacceptable to close this facility," McNerney said.

The Congressman is right, of course. We can only hope that Secretary Nicholson realizes the unique value of the Livermore VA hospital and does the right thing.

Stockton Record editorial: McNerney's bill would "Treat War Wounds Properly"

Last week, this blog highlighted Congressman Jerry McNerney's "Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act" following his introduction of it in the House. Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is -- as Jerry describes it -- the "hallmark injury of the war in Iraq" affecting approximately half of wounded soldiers.

The Stockton Record editorial board has taken notice of McNerney's legislation, heralding it as a bill worthy of becoming federal law:

Pentagon officials estimate that up to one-third of all Iraq veterans have been exposed to such explosions.

That's why Rep. McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and Arkansas Republican John Boozman have introduced legislation to establish a group in the Department of Veterans Affairs to focus on traumatic brain injuries.

The purpose is to find out exactly how large the problem is, what can be done about it and how best to treat those injured.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate, where, as in the House, it rightfully enjoys bipartisan support.

As this bill winds its way through Congress, we'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, you can read the rest of the Stockton Record's editorial here.

McNerney introduces the "Caring for Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury Act"

On Tuesday, Congressman Jerry McNerney introduced a new bill in the House that directly responds to one of the most troubling consequences of the war in Iraq -- "Traumatic Brain Injury" or TBI.

According to Hank Shaw's report in the Stockton Record:

The Caring for Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2007 calls for the panel to assess the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' capacity to treat brain-injured veterans and make recommendations on new policies for care and rehabilitation.

The Pentagon estimated that up to one-third of all Iraq veterans have been exposed to improvised explosive devices, land mines or rocket-propelled grenades at some point during their deployment, resulting in injuries including mild concussions, unconsciousness and coma.

"(Traumatic brain injury) is pretty significant: Half of our injuries are TBI-related now," McNerney said. "I know they have good treatment, but there are a lot that have minor TBI. Basically, we wanted to get out ahead of this issue and give the (VA) secretary some guidance on this issue."

The bill (H.R. 2201) is cosponsored by Rep. John Boozman (R-AR).  Both members of Congress serve on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. In a joint statement on Tuesday, McNerney and Boozman added:

“Our men and women in uniform have put their lives on the line,” said Rep. McNerney.  “It is imperative that we ensure our veterans receive proper care and treatment for injuries they sustained in service to our country.”

“The proper care of injured veterans goes beyond party labels,” Rep. Boozman added. “Doing right by our veterans is the least we can do to honor the service and sacrifice of those who protect our country.”

In February, ABC News anchorman Bob Woodruff's special televised report on the traumatic brain injury he suffered from a roadside bomb explosion in 2006 raised national awareness about TBI. Woodruff also explored the plight of several soldiers with TBI and their often disappointing experiences with the VA.

You can watch Woodruff's full report here:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/WoodruffReports/

Meanwhile, stay tuned for more news on the progress of this important bill.

McNerney: VA admin official bonuses "outrageous"

As Lisa Vorderbrueggen reported on her Contra Costa Times blog today, Congressman Jerry McNerney is "outraged" at the Associated Press article revealing that VA officials have received hefty bonuses while services to veterans have been mired in neglect.

Congressman McNerney released the following statement this morning, as excerpted by Vorderbrueggen:

"I was outraged to read in an Associated Press story this morning that the Veterans Administration official who oversees the VA’s disability claims system received a $33,000 bonus. The VA has a serious backlog of cases and delays averaging 177 days in getting benefits to injured veterans.

“At a time when our men and women serving overseas are beginning to return home and enter the VA system with post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, it is unacceptable that the official in charge of a backlogged system would receive such a hefty bonus.

“This Congress has committed to ensuring our veterans receive high quality treatment when they return home from service overseas. And we’ve followed through, ensuring billions of additional dollars for VA services. Those additional funds are meant to be used to treat our veterans, not to reward those in charge of a system that needs fixing.

“Our veterans deserve our utmost respect when they return home. And their families deserve better than the lengthy bureaucratic maze they must currently navigate to ensure treatment for their loved ones. With a backlogged care system that even VA Secretary Jim Nicholson acknowledges is unacceptable, it is simply outrageous that an official in charge would receive a bonus.”

Click on the "Veteran Affairs" category of this blog to read more about Congressman McNerney's ongoing efforts to hold VA officials accountable and maintain services for veterans in both Livermore and San Joaquin County.

Veterans share similar experiences in Pleasanton

The Contra Costa Times covered Congressman Jerry McNerney's second Listening Tour session with veterans and military families on Saturday -- this time in Pleasanton.

And the veterans there were just as concerned about access to the Livermore VA nursing home, which the Veterans Affairs administration is considering closing:

One option would be to move outpatient, nursing home and other services to San Joaquin County. Pleasanton resident Eugene Walls told McNerney that many Tri-Valley veterans, many of whom are elderly, object to such a move because it would require them to travel farther for care.

"It would put a hardship on me," the 62-year-old veteran said. "I'm still fairly young, but I don't get around so well."

McNerney replied that he is opposed to moving services out of the Tri-Valley area. "In fact, I think we need to expand the Livermore VA facility," McNerney said. "There's no reason we can't have a facility here and in the (San Joaquin) Valley."

In an interview after the forum, the freshman congressman said he would use his position on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to fight for the Livermore facility.

"I'm going to make it clear to the VA that it's unacceptable to close the facility," McNerney said. "They should listen. Congress controls the money."

One thing is clear -- veterans in both the western and eastern portions of the district feel strongly that VA facilities should serve both areas. After listening to impassioned comments from veteran after veteran in both Stockton and Pleasanton, Congressman McNerney intends to do everything in his power to make sure the needs of these veterans are met.

You can read the rest of Dogen Hannah's article here.

Stockton Record: "McNerney Talks Health Care with Concerned Vets"

The Stockton Record covered Congressman Jerry McNerney's Listening Tour for veterans and military families in Stockton on Saturday.

Perhaps the hottest topic was the prospect of opening a new VA facility in San Joaquin County:

At issue locally is whether the federal government will build a regional medical clinic in French Camp or refurbish the one in Livermore. McNerney, a Pleasanton Democrat, says with the new national focus on veterans' health care they might be able to do both.

"The Walter Reed thing did help us in that regard," said McNerney, referring to the scandalous conditions recently uncovered at parts of the Walter Reed medical center outside of Washington.

"The public is demanding that the veterans be taken care of," he said. "The money's there now, so I think you'll see some change on the horizon."

You can read the rest of Hank Shaw's article here.

McNerney announces Listening Tour events for veterans and military families

Congressman Jerry McNerney has announced that two listening tour events will be held with veterans and military families in Stockton and Pleasanton on Saturday, March 24.

“I want to hear directly from veterans and military families about the kinds of issues they face in getting the help, treatment and benefits they deserve,” Rep. McNerney said.  “As we in Congress consider legislation affecting veterans and their loved ones, it’s important to me to actually talk to the people that would be affected.”

Details of the two listening tour events are below:

Pleasanton
Saturday, March 24
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Pleasanton Library
400 Old Bernal Ave.
Pleasanton, CA 94566

Stockton
Saturday, March 24
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cesar Chavez Central Library
605 N. El Dorado St.
Stockton, CA 95202

McNerney to Bush on VA: "Put money where his mouth is"

Congressman Jerry McNerney was interviewed Friday on KCBS about veterans affairs issues, including the deplorable conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Congressman McNerney serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

The Congressman, whose son Michael is a veteran, said he was "shocked" at the conditions at Walter Reed. He was also blunt about the importance of prioritizing the ongoing treatment and long-term care of veterans, and encouraged President Bush to "put his money where his mouth is" in funding that treatment.

You can listen to the full KCBS interview here.

In February, Congressman McNerney spoke before an advisory panel on the need to keep the Livermore VA nursing home open as well as opening up a new facility in San Joaquin County:

Rep Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said at Friday's meeting that he hopes there is enough room in the Department of Veterans Affairs' budget for nursing homes in both places. He said the Livermore area's large population of veterans warrants consideration of a facility there.

"We should be expanding, not cutting, veterans' services, and I'm hopeful that the panel will ultimately agree with me," McNerney told the panel. "As we look at future options for the use of Livermore, we must keep in mind that increasing numbers of veterans will be looking to the VA for care as overseas conflicts continue."

You can read the rest of that post on Jerry's Blog here. 

McNerney on VA nursing home: "We should be expanding, not cutting, veterans' services"

It's one of the most difficult issues facing veterans and their families in the 11th Congressional District -- what will happen to the Veterans Affairs nursing home in Livermore? 

A couple hundred veterans and other supporters attended Friday's final public hearing on the issue and heard Congressman Jerry McNerney tell the advisory panel that closing the Livermore facility was not the answer. Instead, as the Contra Costa Times reported, McNerney pushed for expanding services for veterans into San Joaquin County as well as preserving Livermore's unique facility:

However, the idea of abandoning the Livermore site does not make sense to everyone. Rep Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said at Friday's meeting that he hopes there is enough room in the Department of Veterans Affairs' budget for nursing homes in both places. He said the Livermore area's large population of veterans warrants consideration of a facility there.

"We should be expanding, not cutting, veterans' services, and I'm hopeful that the panel will ultimately agree with me," McNerney told the panel. "As we look at future options for the use of Livermore, we must keep in mind that increasing numbers of veterans will be looking to the VA for care as overseas conflicts continue.

"Livermore is in an ideal location to support soldiers returning to life at home," McNerney continued. "This facility has stood the test of time and offers a welcome respite for men and women from the Tri-Valley area. I strongly urge this panel to preserve the Livermore VA, and expand health care options for veterans in the region."

Willie Monroe, from KGO-ABC7, was there as well and filed this report, including this brief televised interview with the Congressman:

Rep. Jerry McNerney, (D) Pleasanton: "You know, in the past several years, the relative money for veterans has gone down compared to the need, so they had to start making tough decisions, but I think with the new Congress, our determination is to meet the needs rather than to worry about cutting back."

To see aerial photos of the Livermore facility, check out eLivermore.com's Livermore History page.

If you care about this important issue, there's still time to register your comments with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Written comments can be submitted through Feb. 23 at www.va.gov/cares or to Livermore Site Study, VA CARES Studies, P.O. Box 1427, Washington Grove, MD 20880-1427.