Inauguration of a New and Modern Veterans Clinic in Arecibo

Press Release

The resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, shared with the veterans of the northern part of the island the inauguration of a new and modern clinic in Arecibo, the product of a joint effort with the congresswoman and the Department of Veterans ( VA) that added bringing two congressional delegations, public hearings, among other initiatives.

"The veterans' clinic that was in Arecibo was destroyed by Hurricane Maria and because of that, and so that the island's veterans' claims could be heard, I brought the Veterans Committee of the House of Representatives, of which I was a part, so that my colleagues witnessed how imperative it was to rebuild a health center as veterans were cared for in tents. The local VA administration put its efforts so that, despite the circumstances, the best possible service could be provided. Twice I was on the island with the Veterans Committee, we advocated hearings, through letters, we held meetings to identify funds and finally the project started and today, with delays due to the pandemic, I can proudly celebrate with our heroes the opening of this clinic that is essential for our veterans to maintain adequate access to VA medical services, especially those who live outside the metropolitan area," said the commissioner.

At the inauguration were Carlos Escobar, director of VA Caribbean, Dr. George Vélez, deputy director of VA Caribbean, as well as veterans and veterans' organizations. The mayors of Arecibo, Carlos 'Tito' Ramírez Irizarry, of Camuy Gabriel Hernández and of Utuado Jorgito Pérez Heredia; representatives Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló and José "Memo" González; and Senator Elizabeth Rosa Vélez.

Thanks to a total investment over 20 years of $15,171,890, more than 3,500 veterans in the northern zone will have a new community outpatient clinic in Arecibo. After the steps taken as a result of the impact of Hurricane María, on May 1, 2019, a replacement lease was granted to the lessor: Arecibo PRD, Inc. to the construction company Construye, LLC.

The new clinic is located at PR-2 Km 78.0, Bo. Hato Baja, Arecibo, PR 00613. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all construction activities stopped on March 16, 2020; and resumed on May 26, 2020 following the protocols established by the Government of Puerto Rico. Improvement costs to tenants totaled $3,252,269.

The temporary clinic that was established after Hurricane Maria destroyed the original was 7,344 net usable square feet. The new clinic is much larger at 19,450 square feet, almost 12,000 feet more than before. Under the administration of President Trump, the guidelines for outpatient clinics or CBOCs like this one were revised, ruling out that when they are remodeled or rebuilt they must comply with greater capacity and space with the same services.

In addition to primary care, mental health, laboratory and telemedicine services, this new clinic will launch a home care service at home that can be coordinated through this clinic, for which 10 additional new employees will be hired to cover the north and center to the 44 existing employees

Other initiatives of the commissioner in favor of veterans

The commissioner has authored and co-authored 13 federal laws on behalf of veterans. Recently, he insisted that his initiatives in favor of veterans and the military be sustained, included in HR 4350 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2022. The measure will be affected in the House and the Senate is expected to pass its version of the legislation next week. This would result in a conference committee reconciling both proposals.

These include the elimination of $84 million for the Ramey Base School in Aguadilla, $22,310,000 for microgrids, and $14,000,000 for a family housing replacement unit at Fort Buchanan, as well as the other appropriations of funds contemplated in the measure; that a non-governmental research team of public health experts be assigned to study the impact of exposure to hazardous chemicals on the health of individuals living near the so-called Superfunds, a name given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contaminated sites, related to the old Roosevelt Roads base in Ceiba, Culebra and Vieques; that the National Guard equipment that is on the replacement list not be withdrawn until new ones arrive; installation of a small modular firing range (Modular Small Arms Range) for the Army Reserve in Puerto Rico.

In addition to the H.R. 5061, of authorship can eliminate the stigma of mental health in the Forces and H.R 2587 to support the during the recognition of emergency veterans education or SERVE Act, for its acronym in English; and the H.R. 1124, Veterans Serving Veterans, this required the Secretary of Defense to collect contact information and medical training from transitioning service members. This information will then be shared with state accrediting agencies, veterans affairs, veterans organizations, and others. It also directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish an intermediate care technician program for the aforementioned veterans.

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