HBA-RBT H.C.R. 102 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 102 By: Hilderbran Public Health 3/30/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Kerrville Veterans Administration Medical Center was founded in 1919, and opened its doors two years later. The federal government bought the facility from the state in 1926, to eventually incorporate it within the Veterans Affairs Medical Center System. Over the last 10 years, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has spent almost $20 million upgrading the center, installing modern equipment and enhancing its ability to treat and attend veterans. Without a policy reversal, the center will be phased out for extended hospital care by May 1999, and will keep intensive care patients for only 24 hours before transferring them to another Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in San Antonio, or to private hospitals in the Bexar County area. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.C.R. 102 respectfully requests the Congress of the United States to ensure the future of the Kerrville Veterans Administration Medical Center by providing that it be fully funded, staffed, and utilized, and by restoring and promoting the health rights and benefits of the Texas veterans who are its prospective patrons. Provides that the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States.