With more than 83,000 veterans living in El Paso County, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner says there is a clear need for a local medical center to care for those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Gardner directed the Veterans Affairs Department this week to begin the formal process and approve a medical center for Colorado Springs. 

In a leter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, Gardner wrote:

“I am forever grateful to our nation’s men and women who served in uniform and it is critical that the VA continually take steps to evaluate, identify, and address growing population needs. Our nation’s veterans deserve timely access to quality care and where gaps exist, the VA should take steps to rectify those breakdowns in accessibility.”

With Census figures now showing 16% of El Paso’s population are veterans, the need for a medical center seems indisputable.

Thankfully, at least one of our U.S. senators is actually willing to do the job to which he was elected and advocate for the needs of Colorado’s veterans.