Representative Kristi Noem is taking aim at the Department of Veterans Affairs over the plans to close part of a health facility in Hot Springs.
The VA proposed a closure of the Veterans Hospital in Hot Springs a year ago.
Noem charges that the VA is not listening to the concerns of local residents.
“I’m very disappointed in the way that the VA has approached this they told us they would be open and transparent they indicated they would look at the proposal that the community put so much work into but they’re not following through on what they promised,” says Noem.
Noem says so far the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has ignored repeated requests for a meeting with South Dakota’s Congressional delegation. She says she will continue to work toward to keep the facility open.
Noem begins the next congressional term with a new appointment to the House Armed Services Committee for the next Congress.
Noem says the appointment will help her fight for the viability of the Ellsworth Air Force Base and for the B1 Bombers now housed there.
Ellsworth narrowly missed closure in 2005. Another round of base closures is expected to start up again. Some military officials also say the B1 Bomber is nearing the end of its lifespan.
“You know I was very successful in the last Congress being able to fight back against B1 cuts. I has an amendment on the floor that was accepted that prevented some of those cuts that would have impacted the B1 and it’s mission in this last Congress. With my service on this committee it’ll give me even more options to weigh in when it’s critically important to our national defense,” says Noem.
Noem she doesn’t believe the military budget should be cut even with the concerns over the fiscal cliff. Noem opposes sequestration cuts that would impact military spending – she says those cuts should happen elsewhere.