Rep. Kaptur Statement on Temporary Relocation of Lorain VA Clinic
Calls on stakeholders to learn from process, focus final site proposals on co-location of veterans services
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) responded to news today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will temporarily relocate its Lorain Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Sheffield Village, far from other veterans service providers in the City of Lorain. Her full statement:
“Today’s announcement that the VA will temporarily relocate its Lorain clinic outside of Lorain city limits is disappointing, but it presents an important opportunity to regroup and present a plan that co-locates services for the region’s veterans in a way that will win the VA’s approval. Based on my ongoing conversation with Secretary McDonald, the City of Lorain and others have an opportunity to use what we have learned in this process and develop a successful bid that will result in a grouping of veterans services including those provided through Valor Home, LCCC, the Veterans Service Commission, and more.
Locating the Lorain VA clinic within the City of Lorain must be a priority. My office has received roughly 2,600 petitions from constituent veterans calling for the permanent facility to be located within the City of Lorain. Co-location of veterans services there makes a great deal of sense. More than 70 percent of the veteranswho live in the City of Lorain are age 55 or older. 35 percent are classified as disabled and 10 percent live below the poverty line. These numbers are notably higher than for the civilian population in the city. What’s more, there is no public transportation system currently serving Lorain County. Permanently relocating the facility outside of the City of Lorain would severely limit access to healthcare services for many veterans in Northern Ohio, and especially in Lorain.
The City and other stakeholders must now be competently aggressive in preparing a realistic, community-supported bid that will respond to all of the VA’s feedback on the original proposal. I will continue to facilitate this effort in any way I can and will support all parties, including the City of Lorain, that submit plans to co-locate the CBOC in an appropriately central location with the other veterans service providers. This is vital to our effort to ensure that Lorain’s veterans, and veterans throughout Northern Ohio, can continue to receive the best possible care without interruption.”
Congresswoman Kaptur has been a frequent advocate for Lorain’s CBOC facility over the past decade, especially during the past several years as part of efforts to keep the VA’s CBOC facility in the City of Lorain. Rep. Kaptur has toured the current CBOC facility several times and has engaged the VA at the highest level with, and on behalf of, the Mayor and the City of Lorain. She has also held or participated in numerous local and regional meetings and conversations with Louis Stokes Medical Center Director Susan Fuhrer and VA regional contracting offices, the Lorain Veterans Council, Lorain County Veteran Service Commission, the VALOR HOME, as well as the local DAV and VFW chapters.
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