U.S. Senator Jon Tester
 
Billings VA Clinic Dedication
 
October 19, 2012As prepared for delivery
 Thank you, Jay.Four years ago, I had the honor of standing with many of you to break ground on this Clinic. Iremember it was so windy that we had to move things inside.We had to settle for a symbolic groundbreaking that day. But our message was clear – progresswas finally being made.And three years ago we celebrated something very real: a brand new clinic. AND a renewedcommitment to live up to the promises we made to all American veterans.Today, we double down on that commitment as we break ground on this important expansion.When construction is finished, we will be able to serve more veterans with the care they earned.It will allow us to live up to the promise made to all men who sacrificed for our nation. And allof this--closer to home.But today didn’t come without a fight.Three years ago – on the same day we celebrated the completion of Phase One – I called on theSecretary of the V-A to fund Phase Two. And I pledged to you to work with my colleagues onthe Veterans’ Affairs Committee to get the job done.To build support, I brought V-A Secretary Eric Shinseki to Montana.I showed him the need for more services. And I secured the funding necessary to expand theclinic as a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the V-A.But the V-A needed more convincing, so I pushed and I pushed so we could stand here today –ready to help more Montana veterans access the care they earned closer to home.When construction is complete, the expanded clinic will offer new services that are currentlyonly available at Fort Harrison.Veterans from around the region will have access to outpatient surgery and special services, aswell as more space for primary-care services and physical and occupational therapy.But I also know that in a rural state like Montana, there will always be some veterans who needcare in their homes or at local clinics.
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