U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today urged U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to prioritize visiting the Hot Springs VA medical center in 2020 and address the long-standing matters of uncertainty at the facility. The letter follows the secretary’s September 27, 2019, statement of intent to visit Hot Springs, which he issued in advance of traveling to the Fort Meade VA medical center.
“As you look ahead to your 2020 schedule, we request that you expand upon this experience and work to address the long-standing matters at the Hot Springs VA,” the delegation wrote. “As you know, the Hot Springs VA is a priority for veterans in western South Dakota and neighboring states. Unfortunately, the campus has endured a persistent cloud of uncertainty for nearly a decade, which has affected employee recruitment and retention, reduced urgent care hours, required the use of short-term contractors. In November 2018, the South Dakota congressional delegation wrote to request that you visit Hot Springs to meet with veterans and VA employees that would be personally affected by the VA’s realignment plan, as well as see firsthand the quality care and healing environment in ‘the Veterans Town.’”
Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) was copied on the letter.
Full text of the letter below:
December 17, 2019
The Honorable Robert Wilkie
Secretary
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20420
Dear Secretary Wilkie:
Thank you for your continued work to address the significant challenges facing America’s veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as you seek to improve access to quality care and increase VA accountability. We hope your October 3, 2019, visit to the Fort Meade VA medical center was productive and informative with respect to the unique challenges veterans in our region of the country face concerning access to care. We especially appreciate your attention to the needs of rural and Native American veterans, including housing.
As you look ahead to your 2020 schedule, we request that you expand upon this experience and work to address the long-standing matters at the Hot Springs VA. As you know, the Hot Springs VA is a priority for veterans in western South Dakota and neighboring states. Unfortunately, the campus has endured a persistent cloud of uncertainty for nearly a decade, which has affected employee recruitment and retention, reduced urgent care hours, required the use of short-term contractors. In November 2018, the South Dakota congressional delegation wrote to request that you visit Hot Springs to meet with veterans and VA employees that would be personally affected by the VA’s realignment plan, as well as see firsthand the quality care and healing environment in “the Veterans Town.” For example, the Hot Springs VA has an outstanding Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program that holds promising potential for expanded compensated work therapy programs and recreational and retreat opportunities for veterans receiving treatment for PTSD and substance abuse.
As the fourth VA Secretary to oversee this matter, we believe you have a real opportunity to revisit the VA’s record of decision, the disputed data behind it, and move forward in a collaborative way, but this will require direct dialogue.
We know the demands of your schedule are many, which is why we appreciated your September 27, 2019, statement of your intent to visit Hot Springs months after your travel to Fort Meade. We look forward to working with you to foster a productive discussion with the veteran stakeholders in Hot Springs.
Thank you for your continued consideration and attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
