,,iii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #eff  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #ag1         
#bjbe,mr4 ,blum5?al submitt$ ! foll[+   
resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ & agre$ to   
,,resolution  ,recogniz+ t c>e provid$  
by employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs is ess5tial = meet+ ! heal? c>e
 ne$s ( vet]ans ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4      
,:]eas1 z ( #bjbe1 ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs s]ves m ?an #g1jjj1jjj
 pati5ts2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjbd1 vet]an tru/ 9
 ,dep>tm5t outpati5t heal? c>e 0 ne>ly  
#ib p]c5t2 ,:]eas ,dep>tm5t hospitals h 
out-p]=m$ non-,dep>tm5t hospitals 9     
quality & pati5t satisfaction 9 ! ,c5t]s
 = ,m$ic>e  ,m$icaid ,s]vices' annual />
 rat+s s9ce #bjbc :5 ,dep>tm5t          
facilities began be+ includ$ 9 ! annual 
/> rat+s2 ,:]eas rec5t /udies h conclud$
 t ,dep>tm5t heal? c>e is consi/5tly z  
good z1 or bett] ?an1 comm]cial heal?   
c>e 9 areas ( quality & safety2 ,:]eas  
vet]ans :o are engag$ 9 ,dep>tm5t heal? 
c>e 9 ,dep>tm5t m$ical facilities or    

?r\gh ! ,dep>tm5t's community c>e       
provid]s %\ld receive high-quality      
cont9uity ( c>e & positive outcomes     
reg>dless ( :]e !y receive _! c>e2      
,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t's #bjbd ,national    
,vet]an ,suicide ,prev5tion ,annual     
,report f\nd t 9 #bjbb !re 71 on av]age1
 #ag4f vet]an suicides p] day1 ( :i*    
#g4j p] day 7 among vet]ans :o receiv$  
c>e f ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration 9 
#bjba or #bjbb1 & #aj4e 7 among o!r     
vet]ans4 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t is ! l>ge/  
educator ( heal? c>e pr(essionals 9 !   
,unit$ ,/ates1 ) m ?an #gj p]c5t (      
practic+ physicians hav+ complet$ at    
lea/ "s ( _! tra9+ at a ,dep>tm5t m$ical
 facility2 ,:]eas1 = m ?an a c5tury1    
,dep>tm5t rese>*]s h made c\ntless      
m$ical break?r\ghs1 :i* h b5efitt$ n    
only vet]ans1 b all p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2
 & ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t has a /atutory    
f\r? mission to support national1 ,/ate1
 & local em]g5cy ef=ts 9 times ( w>1    
t]rorism1 natural disa/]s1 & public     
heal? em]g5cies1 :ile cont9u+ s]vice to 

vet]ans3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,s5ate-- 
7#a7 recognizes ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs is ess5tial 9 meet+ ! heal? c>e
 ne$s ( vet]ans1 tra9+ ! m$ical work=ce1
 conduct+ critical rese>*1 work+ to end 
vet]an suicide1 & improv+ public heal? &
 ! prep>$ness ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates =       
em]g5cies2  7#b7 urges ! ,dep>tm5t to   
support all x's employees1 respect _!   
exp]tise & exp]i5ce1 & emp[] !m )       
appropriate res\rces to s]ve vet]ans2 & 
7#c7 reaffirms ! commitm5t ( ! ,s5ate to
 ensur+ t e vet]an has timely access to 
high-quality1 af=dable1 & vet]an-c5t]$  
c>e1 :e!r provid$ 9 ,dep>tm5t m$ical    
facilities or ?r\gh ,dep>tm5t community 
c>e provid]s :5 direct c>e is n         
available or 9 ! be/ m$ical int]e/ ( !  
vet]an4