| Albuquerque, April 28—The following is a statement from RPNM Chairman Steve Pearce regarding the Biden Administration’s plan to shut down four VA Clinics in New Mexico. The Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission has proposed closing the community-based clinics in Espanola, Las Vegas, Raton and Gallup. “These clinics provide vital health services to struggling veterans. They are located in rural areas and to shut them down would be detrimental to the health and care of our valued veterans. This Democratic Administration doesn’t support our vets, and this action is an insult to those who have served our nation with honor and dignity. Many veterans who need these important health services at the clinics are elderly and would have to drive 4 or 5 hours to receive vital outpatient primary care services and medical care. This burden, along with skyrocketing gas prices, adds an additional sting. These closures are wrong and show the administration’s disrespect for our treasured vets. Meanwhile, Gov. Lujan Grisham remains silent instead of actively defending our vets.” More than 34,000 New Mexico veterans live in these rural areas, and these clinics provide the only access to care for them. Pearce says he’s pleased that New Mexico Senate Republican leadership has sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs urging him to reject the AIR Commission’s recommendations. |
| The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) advances the ideals of individual liberties for the advancement of its citizens and the greater prosperity of our communities throughout New Mexico. Led by an Executive Board and its Chairman, former NM Congressman Steve Pearce, RPNM serves all New Mexicans via its headquarters in Albuquerque and can be contacted at (505) 298-3662. |
Not an expert in public health care or veterans’ issues (although I am an old man and Navy veteran), I tend to agree that local clinics are important. However, here is a question for Mr. Pearce, Mr. Curtis and the New Mexico Republican senators who express such concern for veterans:
What did you say to Yvette Herrell (R NM CD2, Trump supporter and New Mexico’s only GOP member of Congress) when she voted AGAINST the following bills in support of veterans?
Improve care for veterans suffering from toxic exposure HR 3967
Equal access to contraception for Veterans HR 239
Protecting service members from harassment by debt collectors HR 2547
EVEST Act – requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to automatically enroll veterans eligible for VA health care into the VA health care system. HR 4673
Did you conclude, as I do, that she hates Democrats more than she cares about the wellbeing of New Mexico’s veterans? Did you try to change her mind and/or her attitude?
Her hard-hearted voting record make a Democratic win in CD2 in November a near certainty. What are you doing about it?