{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=83E2A395-14AC-44A5-AB7A-DFA311471F52", "Delegation Meets With VA Secretary in D.C. Following Hot Springs Visit", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, and John Thune (R-S.D.), and Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today met with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald following his Nov. 30, 2016, visit to the Hot Springs, South Dakota VA campus. During the meeting, the delegation encouraged Secretary McDonald to carefully consider input he received from veterans, staff, and other community stakeholders before making any final decision on the future of the campus. The delegation also reiterated to Secretary McDonald that any reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System should be made within the construct of a national realignment strategy for the Veterans Health Administration, as prescribed by law.\r\n\u201cMaking sure veterans in the Hot Springs area have access to quality health care remains my top priority,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cWhile I would have preferred to join Secretary McDonald on his trip to Hot Springs, I am glad to have had the opportunity to meet with him today to hear about his visit and seek assurances that a decision on the future of Hot Springs has not been predetermined. The VA must continue to focus on what is best for South Dakota veterans and the Hot Springs community.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cI was encouraged by Secretary McDonald\u2019s willingness to listen to the delegation\u2019s perspective about how we view the future of the Hot Springs VA and by his commitment to continue engaging with the community it serves,\u201d said Thune. \u201cMy recommendation to the secretary hasn\u2019t changed. I still believe our veterans would be best served if the Hot Springs VA remained open and operational, especially the facility\u2019s PTSD care, which is credited with saving countless veterans\u2019 lives. It\u2019s my hope that after today\u2019s meeting and Secretary McDonald\u2019s visit to South Dakota last week that he\u2019ll make the right decision for our veterans.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cThere is something very special about the \u2018Veterans Town,\u2019 both for the veterans it serves but also for the community of Hot Springs itself,\u201d said Noem.\u00a0 \u201cWith so much at stake, it is essential the VA Secretary approach this decision with accurate information, a nonbiased perspective, and the shared goal of delivering the best quality healthcare to our nation\u2019s veterans.\u00a0 These are items we\u2019ve insisted upon from the beginning and areas in which we will continue to hold the VA accountable going forward.\u00a0 Our veterans deserve nothing less.\u201d\r\nLast week, Secretary McDonald toured part of the Hot Springs VA campus and held a town-hall meeting in Hot Springs to hear from veterans, VA staff and local residents. The delegation recently sent a letter expressing their disappointment and concern over Secretary McDonald\u2019s decision to visit Hot Springs while Congress was in session, thus preventing their participation in the visit.", 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.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=83E2A395-14AC-44A5-AB7A-DFA311471F52"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.357923960313201, "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"}