Golden, McKinley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent VA Closures in Rural Maine and across the Country

WASHINGTON — Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and David McKinley (WV-01) today introduced a bipartisan bill designed to prevent the closure of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in rural communities across the country, including in Houlton, Fort Kent, and Rumford. The bill would eliminate the Asset and Infrastructure (AIR) Commission, which was created by Congress in 2018 and is charged with reviewing and processing VA recommendations that seek to close the three VA facilities listed above and reduce healthcare services available at Togus. 

“Congress created the AIR Commission in 2018, and as a result, VA officials in Washington have quietly recommended closing VA facilities across rural Maine,” said Congressman Golden. “Closing these facilities would put health care further out of reach for Maine veterans, forcing them to drive even further than they already do for VA care. I know that Mainers are dedicated to supporting our veterans and that they do not want Congress to reduce access to healthcare for veterans. Congress should not have created this commission in the first place and my bipartisan bill would eliminate the AIR Commission before it has the chance to act on these misguided recommendations to close VA healthcare facilities.” 

“The VA study recommending hospital closures would severely limit access to the specialized medical care that veterans in rural areas earned by serving their country,” said Congressman McKinley. “We will continue to work to ensure these closures don't happen and that our veterans continue to have access to quality health care.”

“We support the 2018 VA MISSION Act goal of streamlining VA services to provide better care for veterans, but it’s clear that the AIR Commission is not the right way to accomplish that goal. We can’t support a process that will lead to closures of VA facilities in many of the rural communities where Maine veterans need them the most and limit the services our veterans can get close to home. As a top priority of The American Legion Department of Maine, we strongly support and applaud Congressman Golden for his work to protect Maine veterans’ access to the health care benefits they’ve earned.” – The American Legion, Department of Maine

“The veterans of northern Maine deserve access to quality care close to their homes. We’ve earned it through our service and the sacrifices of the many who never made it home,’’ said Roger Felix, Commander of the Caribou VFW.  “The VA’s recommendations through the AIR commission would be just another hit to our veterans and communities throughout our great state. Actions like these, done in the shadows without input from the very veterans it serves, will only drive a wedge between the VA and our veterans. Congressman Golden is right to be doing everything he can to shut this commission down. I am glad he’s continuing to lead the way in advocating for veterans in towns like Caribou to make sure that medical care is never compromised for those who gave up many of their best days so we can enjoy a better way of life”

The VA recommendations to the AIR Commission included: 

• Closure of the Houlton Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)
• Closure of the Ft. Kent CBOC
• Closure of the Rumford CBOC
• Relocating Community and Residential Care from Togus VA to Portland
• Ending emergency department services at Togus VA
• Consolidating the services offered at the closed facilities into facilities that would remain open, like those at Togus, or into facilities that have yet to be built. 

The MISSION Act of 2018 mandated the formation of the AIR Commission and required the Secretary of the VA to submit to this Commission recommendations for the modernization and realignment of VA medical facilities. To staff the Commission, the President nominated eight individuals in March 2022, with the ninth nominee still forthcoming. The eight nominees that have been nominated thus far have no experience providing healthcare for rural veterans. 

Golden’s bill is similar to legislation offered by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Tester (D-MT) in the U.S. Senate. While several senators have exercised their nomination authority to hold up the nomination process to fill the ninth seat on the Commission, neither the House nor the Senate have taken the legislative action necessary to permanently eliminate the commission and prevent the recommended closures. 

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