First District Congressman Paul Ryan today sent a letter to the director of the North Chicago Veterans Administration Medical Center and to the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12, advocating that a veterans' outpatient clinic be established in Kenosha County.

"A veterans' clinic in Kenosha would improve the quality and accessibility of health care for many Southeastern Wisconsin veterans – something that is an ongoing concern for me," said Ryan. "While there have been improvements, some veterans still experience difficulty obtaining the care they need. For the roughly 20,000 veterans who live in Kenosha County and Northern Lake County of Illinois, a Kenosha-based outpatient clinic would offer quality medical service closer to home."

"The Department of Veterans Affairs has made providing health care in closer proximity to veterans one of its goals, and I look forward to working with the Veterans Administration as well as my colleagues in Congress to help make this goal a reality," added Ryan. "I've heard a lot of positive feedback about the veterans' clinics now operating in Edgerton and Union Grove, and I believe a Kenosha County clinic would be a similar success."

"We owe a debt of gratitude to our nation's veterans, who have safeguarded our freedom through their dedicated service," said Ryan. "There's increasing demand for medical care for the World War II generation. It is our responsibility to make certain our veterans have convenient access to affordable, high quality health care. By establishing a veterans' clinic in Kenosha County, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be honoring this commitment."

To obtain more information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Ryan, please contact Kate Dwyer at (202) 225-3031.