BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AJR 20


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          Date of Hearing:  March 29, 2016


                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS


                                 Jacqui Irwin, Chair


          AJR 20  
          (Kim) - As Amended March 14, 2016


          SUBJECT:  Veterans Affairs hospitals


          SUMMARY:  This measure would request the Congress of the United  
          States to support and build a central Veterans Affairs Hospital  
          in Orange County.


          EXISTING LAW:  The Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 1988  
          (Pub.L. 100-527) changed the former Veterans Administration into  
          a Cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  This bill is not keyed fiscal.


          COMMENTS:  


          According to the Author: 

            Veterans in Orange County have reported barriers in accessing  
            services and feel their needs are not being met. In order to  
            give these veterans better access to care and treatment for  
            physical and psychological issues, Congress should support a  
            central Veterans Affairs Hospital in Orange County to meet  








                                                                     AJR 20


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            these needs. 

          Orange County is in the Veterans Health Administration Veterans  
          Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22, Desert Pacific Healthcare  
          Network.  According to the USDVA, VISN 22 is served by the  
          following VA Medical Centers in California: VA Greater Los  
          Angeles Healthcare System, (Los Angeles, CA), Loma Linda  
          Healthcare System (Loma Linda, CA),  VA Long Beach Healthcare  
          System (Long Beach, CA), and VA San Diego Healthcare System (San  
          Diego, CA). Of these, depending on the veteran's location in  
          Orange County, the closest VA Hospitals would likely be VA Long  
          Beach (approximately 40 miles from Irvine, CA.), Loma Linda  
          (approximately 56 miles from Irvine), or San Diego  
          (approximately 70 miles from Irvine).  


          VISN 22 also is served by several community based outpatient  
          clinics in or near Orange County:  Anaheim (Anaheim, CA),  
          Escondido (Escondido, CA), and Laguna Hills (Laguna Hills, CA),  
          Oceanside Clinic (Oceanside, CA), Santa Ana (Santa Ana, CA),   
          and Villages At Cabrillo (Long Beach, CA).


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          67 Individuals on behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary




          Opposition










                                                                     AJR 20


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          None on File




          Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550