{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E735DD46-D7F1-4B54-B5B8-80F25C22146C", "Weekly Column: Preserving the Veterans Town", "2014-12-08", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It\u2019s hard to believe it\u2019s been three years since our fight to save the Hot Springs VA Hospital began.\u00a0 On December 12, 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a reorganization proposal that included plans to close the doors of the VA hospital in Hot Springs \u2013 a community so dedicated to those who\u2019ve served that it has earned the title \u201cVeterans Town.\u201d\r\nThe Hot Springs VA Hospital is a special place.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had the privilege of visiting the community and facility numerous times. I\u2019m always taken aback by how relaxing its surroundings are and the beauty of the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, a short-term home for veterans recovering from injuries or illness that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.\u00a0 The hospital employs hundreds in the Hot Springs community, many of whom are veterans themselves.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve spoken to many of the nearly 31,000 veterans served by the hospitals in Hot Springs and Fort Meade \u2013 the vast majority of which have been very passionate about keeping the hospital open.\u00a0 Needless to say, it would be a shame to lose this facility.\r\nSince the proposal was initially put forward, we\u2019ve been asking for more information on the Native Americans who are served at the hospital, the land valuation in the VA\u2019s cost-benefit analysis, and simple estimates for key provisions.\u00a0 The numbers have never added up nor have they been consistent with community stakeholder data.\r\nIn August, I held a Congressional Field Hearing with the Chairman of the House VA Committee where these same questions about data discrepancies and transparency arose.\u00a0 Once again, the answers we received from the VA were far from sufficient.\u00a0 The Hot Springs Hospital did, however, earn the respect and support of Chairman Miller at the hearing.\u00a0 He\u2019s an important ally to have in Congress.\r\nDespite the data discrepancies, the VA is pushing forward with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), one of the last items needed to finalize their proposal.\u00a0 I helped the U.S. House of Representatives pass a provision earlier this year that would stop the VA from using any FY2015 funds to conduct an EIS on facilities like the Hot Springs hospital, but the provision has not yet been taken up by the Senate.\r\nTwo weeks ago, I spoke with VA Secretary Robert McDonald about next steps.\u00a0 He was aware of what\u2019s been going on in the community and I requested that he come out to Hot Springs to see it for himself \u2013 an invitation I also made in writing shortly after he was confirmed as Secretary in July and again last week.\u00a0 It\u2019s something we continue to work on.\r\nThis fight is far from over. \u00a0Hot Springs has been providing critical care to South Dakota veterans for more than a century and I\u2019m committed to doing all I can to ensure Hot Springs can serve veterans in this way for a century more.", 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": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E735DD46-D7F1-4B54-B5B8-80F25C22146C"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8180599436163902, "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"}