Chairman Takano Leads Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to VA Medical Center in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, July 19, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Cali.) will lead a Congressional Delegation to the VA Medical Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico to meet with VA leadership, VSO leaders, and veterans themselves to see first hand how well the island, and VA specifically, is prepared for the next natural disaster. 

“Despite San Juan VA leadership indicating that ‘no one is more prepared’ to support veterans during and after Hurricane Maria, our June visit proved otherwise. My staff heard harrowing stories from Veteran Service Organizations -- accounts of veterans discharged to homes that had no electricity or running water, and a VAMC that neglected to give out surplus medical supplies. 

“Our veterans deserve better,” said Chairman Takano. “Puerto Ricans continue to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria and are under the threat that another more powerful and disastrous storm or natural disaster could strike the island. Frankly, we don’t know if the San Juan VA is prepared.”

This Congressional Delegation will be an important opportunity to conduct additional oversight, assess VA’s emergency response plans, and ensure that all veterans can access high quality care in the event of another natural disaster.

The members of the Congressional Delegation are:

• Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
• Chairwoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), HVAC Subcommittee on Health
• Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS)
• Congressman Gregorio Sablan (D-NMI)
• Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR)

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