{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-veterans-health-care-center-critical-to-fulfilling-our-promise-to-north-central-indiana-veterans", "Donnelly: Veterans Health Care Center Critical to Fulfilling Our Promise to North Central Indiana Veterans", "2015-10-02", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "IN", "Joe Donnelly", "D000607", "www.donnelly.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Donnelly: Veterans Health Care Center Critical to Fulfilling Our Promise to North Central Indiana Veterans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDonnelly obtained congressional authorization and funding for center during time in House of Representatives\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 2, 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMishawaka, Ind.  U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly today participated in the official groundbreaking of the St. Joseph County Health Care Center. Expanding access to health care to north central Indiana veterans has been a top priority for Donnelly since his service in the U.S. House of Representatives.\r\nDonnelly said, Todays groundbreaking of the St. Joseph County Health Care Center is a great day for north central Indiana veterans.In recognition of their service and sacrifice, our nation promises to care for our veterans and their families long after their last day in uniform. Ensuring ready access to health care when and where they need it is the least we can do for those who have done so much for our country. The St. Joseph County Health Care Center is critical to fulfilling our promise to the men and women who have served us  and that is why helping make it a reality has been a top priority. Many of our local veterans will be a short ride away from necessary health services, including primary care and mental health providers.\r\n\"I am proud this new health care center will call St. Joseph County home, and I will continue working nonstop with our federal, state, and local partners to make sure Hoosier veterans receive the care they deserve.\"\r\n\r\nFrom left to right: Donnelly participates in official groundbreaking of the St. Joseph County Health Care Center; Donnelly speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony; Donnelly with veterans from American Legion Post 308.\r\nFor more high resolution photos click here.\r\nEnsuring veterans have access to health care has been a top priority for Donnelly throughout his time in Congress. In 2007, then-Congressman Donnelly sent a letter to the Northern Indiana VA requesting utilization statistics to better understand how often, how far, and for what services South Bend-area veterans must travel. In 2008, Donnelly hosted a veterans roundtable to discuss expanding veterans services in St. Joseph County. A year later, Donnelly and then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced the St. Joseph County Health Care Centers approval. In the years that followed, Donnelly worked with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure congressional authorization and funding and worked closely with the VA to open an interim health care center in South Bend in 2012.\r\nThe St. Joseph County Health Care Center is projected to be even larger and serve more veterans. The Center is expected to serve veterans in several northwest Indiana counties (St. Joseph, Elkhart, Lake, Porter and La Porte) and have services including primary health care and expanded mental health care among other services.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-veterans-health-care-center-critical-to-fulfilling-our-promise-to-north-central-indiana-veterans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.593674998730421, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}