Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to act quickly to approve the relocation of several VA health clinics in the state that are no longer able to adequately serve New Mexico veterans.

In a letter, Bingaman asked VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki to streamline the contracting process that has prevented the VA from leasing larger clinic facilities.  He told Shinseki that of the 13 Community Based Outpatient Clinics already in the state, at least five -- Raton, Silver City, Santa Fe, Gallup and Artesia -- are too small.  Additionally, because of delays in the contracting process, a clinic announced for Rio Rancho in 2008 has yet to open.

"New Mexico is the 5th largest state in the union with one VA Health Care System based in Albuquerque," Bingaman wrote to Shinseki.  "To receive care in Albuquerque, many veterans around the state must travel approximately five hours round trip".

"With such long distances for residents of rural areas, Community Based Outpatient Clinics play a critical role in meeting the needs of our veterans community.  With this in mind, I request your assistance to provide me with information regarding why this backlog has occurred and how the VA plans to move forward quickly to finalize lease agreements for new clinic facilities across the state," Bingaman added.

Bingaman has been informed that the process for signing a new lease can take years.  For example, the New Mexico VA Health Care System office identified in 2006 that the Raton clinic was inadequate and that it needed to be relocated to a larger facility. Yet to date no progress has been made.  In the meantime, the waiting room is too small to accommodate those waiting for their appointments, so some patients have resorted to waiting outside – an untenable situation in the fall and winter months.

"On behalf of New Mexico's veterans for which I serve, I thank you for your help to resolve this urgent matter," Bingaman wrote to Shinseki.