{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=f6f14e85-3ceb-4cd0-a074-67e242e924e9", "Mobile clinic: Promise kept for area veterans | Bluefield Daily Telegraph", "2013-11-10", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November 10, 2013\n\t\t\t Mobile clinic: Promise kept for area veterans | Bluefield Daily Telegraph \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tA new mobile health clinic that will be stationed in Mercer County in early 2014 to serve area veterans has arrived at the Beckley Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Beckley VA is now beginning the process of finding necessary personnel to be hired, and is working out the details of the delivery of the mobile unit to Mercer County.\r\nThis is excellent news for veterans across southern West Virginia, and particularly those in Mercer and McDowell counties, who will benefit from the new mobile unit. U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who was joined last week by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., in announcing the arrival of the mobile unit at the Beckley VA Center, says it is his hope that the details can be finalized quickly so that veterans in Mercer and surrounding counties can begin taking advantage of the health services provided by the mobile unit without delay. We agree. It is important for the mobile unit to arrive \u2014 and remain stationed in Mercer County \u2014 on time and as originally planned.\r\nRahall says the opening of the new tele-health facility planned for the existing Vet Center in Princeton has fallen behind schedule, which he admits is a concern. But, he is encouraged by reports from VA officials that efforts are being made to get the project back on schedule and all of the necessary contracts signed. The tele-health center is now slated to open early next year.\r\nIt is important for both the mobile unit and the tele-health center to be up and running as quickly as possible.\r\n\u201cI appreciate VA officials for being responsive to the concerns of local veterans and their families.,\u201d Rahall said. \u201cThe mobile clinic is a major first step toward increasing access to veterans\u2019 care in Mercer County and the surrounding area and I hope that our veterans will make full use of these new services, which is the best way to demonstrate the need for future VA investments.\u201d\r\n\u201cOur veterans deserve access to the best treatment and care that is available,\u201d Manchin added last week. \u201cThis is truly a great day for the veterans of this region, and much of it is because of a very special veteran, Al Hancock. After 17 years of working to make this idea a reality, the retired Air Force veteran who served two tours in Vietnam can finally see this idea turn into a reality for the veterans of Mercer County. I thank Al, the VA, the Beckley VA center and all those who have worked to bring this much needed health care access to Mercer County.\u201d\r\n\u201cWhen veterans need primary and mental health care services, they shouldn\u2019t face barriers like having to travel more than an hour to receive the care they earned and deserve,\u201d Rockefeller, who is the longest serving member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, added. \u201cI want to express my appreciation to the VA, the Beckley VA Medical Center, and our local heroes, for their tireless work to bring this mobile clinic to Mercer County. Starting next year, and for years to come, the clinic will give our veterans access to critical health care services.\u201d\r\nThe mobile health clinic will be an extension of the Beckley VA Medical Center. The fully self-contained mobile center includes two exam rooms, a waiting area and a restroom. Electronic records will be maintained through the use of satellite technology. All three lawmakers say the facility will remain in Mercer County as long as it is utilized by area veterans.\r\nWe are glad to hear that the mobile unit has now arrived at the Beckley VA, and we look forward to seeing the clinic stationed in Mercer County early next year. It is good to see that the promise made to area veterans is being kept \u2014 even if the tele-health center has fallen behind schedule.\r\nWe applaud Rahall, Manchin and Rockefeller \u2014 and Al Hancock in particular \u2014 for helping make these long requested facilities a reality for veterans across our region.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t    Editorial\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 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.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=f6f14e85-3ceb-4cd0-a074-67e242e924e9"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6079850029200315, "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"}