Senator Webb Visits Servicemembers and Veterans at Joint Forces Staff College, Hampton Veterans Medical Center

From the Office of Senator Webb

January 15, 2010

Contact: Jessica Smith - 202-731-5096
Annie Hughes - 202-224-4447

Hampton Roads, Va - Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) was in Hampton Roads today visiting with military servicemembers at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk and veterans at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). A strong supporter of proper care for our nation's veterans, Webb has called for improvements to the quality of health care services provided at the Hampton VAMC.

Senator Webb spoke with an audience of nearly 400 students, faculty and staff at the Joint Forces Staff College in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee and chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee's Personnel Subcommittee.

"I know there is a wealth of experience in this room and you have my profound respect," said Senator Webb. He discussed his efforts to establish appropriate force rotation cycles, ensure greater accountability in wartime-support contracting, and raise the awareness of U.S. strategic interests in the Pacific region.

During the question and answer period, Senator Webb confirmed that the pending health care reform legislation would not adversely affect TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, or veterans' health care programs.

Senator Webb's afternoon visit to the Hampton VAMC provided him the opportunity to discuss firsthand his concerns about the quality of healthcare services being provided to the patients. After receiving 149 complaints from Virginians, ranging from abusive patient treatment to wrongful death, in October, the Senator called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a thorough investigation of the Hampton VAMC.

As a result of Senator Webb's letter, a delegation of VA representatives has twice met with Senator Webb's staff, and a System-wide Ongoing Assessment and Review Strategy (SOARS) investigation was conducted and completed in early December. Veterans Affairs officials subsequently met with the Senator's staff Wednesday to review the results and chart future courses of action to improve the facility.

""I have been involved in veterans care and veterans law for most of my life, and I want to emphasize that I have great respect for those who choose this work as their calling," said Senator Webb on Friday afternoon.

"This visit was part of an ongoing relationship and dialogue between my office and the Hampton VA Medical Center," added Senator Webb. "We take all of these individual cases seriously and will continue to look at the concerns raised with my office in terms of quality of care."

To read Senator Webb's October 19 letter to Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Eric Shinseki, please visit: http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2009-10-21-01.cfm

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