Norton Announces Major Win for D.C. Veterans, Southeast Outpatient Clinic to Remain Open

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would begin a new, three-year lease at the Southeast Washington Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), offering basic medical and preventive care, health education, mental health services, addiction counseling, comprehensive women's health care and nutritional counseling to eligible veterans. Norton and her staff recently met with the Washington DC VA Medical Center Director, Michael Heimall, along with the Director of the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs and representatives from D.C. Councilmember Trayon White's office after reports the VA was planning to close this facility. Norton strongly fought against this decision and insisted the VA provide written answers.

"We appreciate this action following our meeting," Norton said. "This is a major win for DC veterans and their families. Without the health care services provided by the Southeast CBOC, veterans living in Wards 7 and 8 would have been left without access to necessary care in the District."

Norton visited the Washington DC VA Medical Center this spring to meet with Heimall. During this visit, the two discussed the scheduled closing of the Southeast CBOC. After speaking with Heimall, Norton wrote a letter to the VA Secretary expressing her concern that closing this CBOC would limit medical access for the veterans living in Southeast DC and convened a follow-up meeting. As a result of this meeting, Heimall announced that he would pursue a new lease for the Southeast CBOC to remain open, ensuring there will be no gap in accessible health care for veterans in the Ward 8 community. The VA also committed to finding innovative partnerships to expand health care access for veterans in Wards 7 and 8.