JANESVILLE – First District Congressman Paul Ryan applauded today's announcement by the Undersecretary for Health of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that VHA is recommending that the William S. Middleton Memorial VA Medical Center in Madison be sustained and provided with additional nursing home beds.

"Our veterans deserve top-quality care that is easily accessible to them," Ryan said. "Now is not the time to retreat from our commitment to veterans' health care. Our veteran population is aging, and we need to step up efforts to serve them well. Today's announcement by the VHA is good news because many veterans in our area currently depend on care provided through the Madison VA hospital. The VHA's recommendation demonstrates that it understands how important this facility is to our veterans."

The VHA's preliminary recommendation is part of an assessment and adjustment process that the U.S. Veterans Administration is currently conducting in our region in order to improve and streamline its services to veterans. The process is officially known as "CARES" – the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services.

Among the recommendations the VHA had been considering as part of the CARES process were options that involved closing the hospital and providing services through other venues. On July 13, members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation, including Ryan, sent a letter to the Undersecretary for Health of the VHA that expressed concern with some of changes under consideration. In their letter, the Members of Congress noted:

"We have been alarmed at some of the recommendations that VHA is considering and will strongly oppose any diminished facilities or reduction in services for Wisconsin veterans." Later in their letter, they added: "…any cut in services or closure of the William S. Middleton Veterans Memorial Hospital is unacceptable and will be manifestly unfair to Wisconsin's veterans."

This afternoon, the VHA announced its preliminary recommendations, which include the recommendation to sustain the VA Medical Center in Madison. This announcement ushers in a 60-day comment period for interested individuals, including area veterans. After reviewing the comments it receives during this period, the VHA will reissue its recommendations on the matter.

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