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.