LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to ensure the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Health
Care System establish limitations on the utilization and disposal of
properties and buildings in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Veterans of the United States Armed Services from New York
State who served their country so honorably have had the most comprehen-
sive system of assistance at their disposal of any nation in the world;
and
WHEREAS, The State of New York has 988,217 veterans as of September
30, 2009, broken down by 724,592 wartime veterans and 263,625 peacetime
veterans; and
WHEREAS, New York State has 12 VA medical centers; 2 domiciliary
facilities, 47 outpatient clinics; and 15 vet centers; and
WHEREAS, VA health care facilities provide a broad spectrum of
medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care; and
WHEREAS, It is critical that the policies of the federal Department of
Veterans Affairs reflect a policy that places the continued needs of New
York veterans and the New York veterans community in the forefront of
consideration, including encouraging the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to retain all properties currently used by the Department of Veterans
Affairs in New York State, as an element of the veteran delivery service
system, that the Secretary may not enter into an enhanced-use lease of
properties or buildings located in New York unless activities under such
lease include the provision of services for veterans, including veterans
of limited financial means and that the Secretary shall continue to
provide through the facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs at
the statewide facilities, the types and levels of health care services
for veterans that are provided through these facilities as of the date
of the adoption of this Resolution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to encour-
age the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue to
provide for the needs of all veterans of New York State at all facili-
ties operated by the Department in the State of New York, to enact poli-
cies that retain all properties currently used by the Department of
Veterans Affairs, that enhanced-use lease of properties or buildings
include the provision of services for veterans, including veterans of
limited financial means and that the Secretary continue to provide
through the Department the types and level of health care the veterans
of New York State are currently receiving; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.