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WHEREAS, The Federal Government has established a commission called the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) to study ways to reorganize how health services are offered to veterans, and this reorganization may include the closing of some veterans hospitals or medical centers; and
WHEREAS, On August 27, 2003, CARES representatives were at the Veterans Hospital on Highland Drive in East Liberty to collect comments on how to best meet the health needs of local veterans and in the most cost-effective manner; and
WHEREAS, The Highland Drive Veterans Affairs Hospital provides comprehensive acute and extended psychiatric treatment, including treatment for substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia; a comprehensive homeless veterans program; and a regional center for the treatment of former prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, This facility is also backup to the Department of Defense's health care system in time of national emergency as Western Pennsylvania's Coordination Center for the National Disaster Medical System; it has been designated as the National Liver and Renal Transplant Center, Regional Cardiac Surgery Center, Oncology Network Center and Dialysis Center; and is part of the Pittsburgh Healthcare System that supports three veterans outreach centers in Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Wheeling, West Virginia.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council in the City of Pittsburgh supports The General Assembly Of Pennsylvania with House Bill 426 of 2003, in keeping The Highland Drive Veterans Affairs Hospital open to serve the thousands of veterans that has served this country so very well.