HR1147 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1147 LRB098 21540 GRL 60144 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In recent weeks, it has become known that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System had a secret wait list of up to 1,600 veterans waiting to receive an appointment for care at that facility; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the delay in care, at least 40 United States veterans have died while waiting for appointments at the Phoenix facility; and

WHEREAS, Since the revelation of the delay of care in Phoenix, the number of Veterans Affairs' facilities under investigation has expanded to 26 around the country; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is home to the Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital, which provides health care services to veterans in the Chicagoland area; and

WHEREAS, Federal auditors have visited Hines Hospital in recent days amid allegations that patients at Hines Hospital were kept on secret wait lists in order for executives to collect bonuses linked to meeting standards for speedy treatment; and

WHEREAS, President Obama has vowed to fix whatever is wrong at the Department of Veterans Affairs and promised to hold those involved accountable; and

WHEREAS, Congress has the appropriate role to provide oversight to federal agencies throughout the federal government and enact legislation to ensure all veterans at VA hospitals are provided with health care in a timely manner; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Obama administration and the Congress of the United States to come to a quick resolution to the scandal within the Veterans Administration to ensure that every veteran is afforded the health care they so rightly deserve; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and the members of the Illinois congressional delegation.