Smith Contact: Chris Matthews

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi announced today that the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics (SORCC), for years known as the White City Dom, will remain fully operational. The final decision by the VA Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Service (CARES) Commission reverses an August 2003 draft recommendation to scale back or close the facility.  Oregon Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) worked collaboratively to preserve services at the SORCC.

"Veterans answered the call of duty, served our nation well, and kept us strong," said Smith. "We’ll never be able to repay our debt to them, but we can help them with convenient access to quality health care."

"We, as a nation, have a social contract with our veterans, in recognition of their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect our country. Maintaining these health care facilities means we’re keeping that promise," Wyden said. "Senator Smith, Congressman Walden and I have worked tirelessly to preserve these facilities, and I’m very pleased that our team effort, along with the efforts of many others, will pay off for Oregon veterans."

"We saved the Dom by demonstrating in indisputable fashion the high quality and efficiency of the services provided," said Walden. "Keeping this facility open means more than 400 jobs and $28 million a year in economic impact to the Rogue Valley. It means more than 9,000 veterans a year will continue to get the best health care treatment of its kind available to veterans in any facility in the country. The quality of care, the quality of staff and the enormous and enthusiastic response of the community all had an impact in getting the Commission to reverse its course. In the conversations I’ve had with Secretary Principi, I know he recognized what a jewel he has in the Dom."

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WHITE CITY SORCC - TIMELINE OF EVENTS

July 25, 2003 - A draft report by the CARES Commission proposes realigning the inpatient Domiciliary and Compensated Work Therapy programs at the SORCC and relocating them elsewhere within Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20, which serves Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Washington.

July 30, 2003 - Walden and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) write to Secretary Principi expressing opposition to the proposal to curtail services at the White City facility.

August 9, 2003 - Walden travels to Medford to meet with Dr. Max McIntosh, Deputy Director of the SORCC, and other facility administrators to learn why the realignment proposal was made and how it would affect southern Oregon veterans and facility employees.

August 26, 2003 - The CARES Commission holds a public hearing in Vancouver, Washington, on the proposals affecting VA facilities in the Northwest.  Walden veterans' aide Troy Ferguson delivers testimony in opposition to the reduction of services at the White City SORCC.

September 5, 2003 - In a letter and personal phone call to Secretary Principi, Walden urges the Secretary to schedule a public meeting in southern Oregon to give CARES commissioners a firsthand look at the quality of care provided at the facility and observe its importance to veterans, VA employees and the local community.

September 17, 2003 - In response to Walden's request to hold a CARES Commission meeting in southern Oregon, Secretary Principi announces that a hearing will be held in Medford in early October.

October 3, 2003 - The CARES Commission holds a public hearing at the Medford National Guard Armory to hear testimony on the SORCC.  Over 900 veterans, SORCC employees, local officials and other interested parties pack the armory in support of the facility.  (To view Walden's testimony delivered at the hearing, click on the following link: http://www.house.gov/walden/press/releases/2003/10Oct/pr1003a03.htm.)

November 21, 2003 - The VA releases the results of its Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) report for the 3^rd quarter of FY03.  The SHEP report ranks the White City SORCC as the number one VA healthcare facility nationwide.  The SORCC is ranked first in Continuity of Care, Emotional Support, Overall Coordination, and Overall Quality and is the only facility in the nation to rank in the top 10 in 10 out of 13 categories surveyed.

December 8, 2003 - Walden and Jackson County Commissioner Sue Kupillas meet with Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of the facility.  Kupillas stresses the impact of closing the SORCC on the local economy and the quality of life of southern Oregon veterans.  The SORCC directly contributes $28 million to the local economy per year.

February 13, 2004 - The final CARES Commission report is released.  The commission reverses the draft recommendation and recommends that the SORCC maintain its current mission for inpatient domiciliary and Compensated Work Therapy care.  It also recommends that outpatient services remain.  Secretary Principi is given 30 days to announce his final decision concerning the future of the facility.

February 26, 2004 - Confident that Secretary Principi would ultimately decide to maintain services at the White City Dom, Walden writes to Congressman James Walsh, the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, HUD & Independent Agencies, to formally request federal funding for two construction projects to ensure the long-term structural health of the facility.  Walden requests $3.95 million for the expansion of the SORCC's ambulatory care center, which is necessary to meet the projected increase in the facility's patient caseload and enhance outpatient services for local veterans.  Walden also requests $16 million to make seismic upgrades to the 18 buildings on the campus considered to be at exceptionally high risk in the event of a seismic event.  (To view Walden's letter to Walsh, click on the following link: http://walden.house.gov/press/releases/2004/03Mar/WhiteCityDomletter.htm.)

February 27, 2004 - Walden holds an event at the White City SORCC with administrators, employees, patients and volunteers concerning the future of the facility. 

Congressman Walden represents the Second District of Oregon, which includes 20 counties in southern, central and eastern Oregon.  He is a Deputy Whip and a member of both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Resources.

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