Kirk makes vets a major priority
Recently ground was broken for the Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. It is the first ever joint VA-Navy hospital and its construction ensures that area veterans will not have to travel to Chicago for medical care. While most coverage of the event rightly focuses on the hero for whom the facility is named, Capt. Lovell, I would like to recognize a man who was instrumental in saving and expanding the North Chicago facility: Congressman Mark Kirk.
From his first day in Congress in 2001 Mark Kirk has been a tireless advocate for veterans and made saving the North Chicago VA hospital a major priority. He not only saved the facility from closure, but he negotiated a $100 million addition to ensure that our veterans and servicemen get state-of-the art care.
Congressman Kirk has a special perspective on veterans issues: He is one of only two active military members of Congress. He knows the challenges that servicemen face and how to best deal with them. We owe a great debt to our veterans. Congressman Kirk recognizes this and is working tirelessly to see that it is paid.
James Rubly
Lake Forest