By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Monday, December 14, US Representatives Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) and Mike Rogers (R-Saks) joined VA leaders and community partners to cut the ribbon on the Central Alabama VA’s new Chantilly clinic in Montgomery.
Joining Reps. Roby and Rogers were: Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson, Southeast Regional VA Director Tom Smith, Acting Central Alabama VA Director Traci Solt, and Col. Kevin S. Poitinger, Commander of the 42nd Medical Group at Maxwell Air Force Base.
The new 150,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art clinic is intended to improve access and quality of care in a system that has struggled greatly.
Speaking to the crowd of VA employees and community partners, Roby thanked the administrators, doctors, nurses and support staff saying she hopes today is a “turning point” in the long saga of fighting to improve care for veterans.
Congresswoman Roby said, “I’m your partner in this. I’m your advocate in Washington for making sure you have the tools and resources you need to properly care for veterans. I’m the one fighting to cut through the bureaucracy and make sure national VA leaders pay attention to Central Alabama so our veterans don’t get left behind.
Congressman Mike D. Rogers said, “Proud to be a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new VA Center in Montgomery. Our Veterans deserve the best care we can provide them!”
Rep. Roby said, “As someone who represents a district with a high concentration of veterans, I have a responsibility to fight on behalf of those who fought for us. I take that responsibility seriously, and I’ll work alongside anyone who wants to be part of the solution.”
Over the last year and a half, Roby has been critical of the pace of reform at the troubled Central Alabama VA system after it was expose that the national Department of Veterans Affairs waitlist manipulation scandal was particularly acute in the Montgomery area VA.
Rep. Roby said, “Soon, I will be bringing together VA leaders to sit down with the hospital CEOs from around Alabama so we can talk about a partnership that helps veterans get care in their own communities.” “When a veteran in Troy or Greenville or Andalusia is allowed to easily access their local provider for care, it means they aren’t forced to drive to Montgomery or Tuskegee or here at Chantilly. It also means the demand at our VA facilities is eased up so they can properly tend to those already on their rolls. We’ve had some initial conversations, and I’m optimistic we can build a community veterans health care network that can be a national model for how to improve access and deal with this heightened demand.”
Rep. Roby said, “I want to thank everyone who works at CAVCHS, from the administrators and doctors to the nurses and support staff. I know that the vast majority of those who work at the VA are dedicated individuals who work hard to take care of veterans, often in some difficult, pressure-filled situations. On behalf of Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, I want you all to know how grateful I am for all you do to take care of our veterans. I know the last year and a half hasn’t been easy. Change is never easy, but it has been necessary. Some things needed to change at CAVHCS and really the VA nationwide. We are certainly not finished pushing to make improvements. My staff and I remain will remain vigilant in making sure our veterans are receiving the care they need – because that’s our job.”
Congresswoman Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. Congressman Mike Rogers represents Alabama’s Third Congressional District.
