It’s Official: More Accessible Health Care for Northwest NJ Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, today participated in the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Sussex County.

“When it comes to veterans, the federal government has a solemn responsibility to ensure that not a single veteran, man or woman, falls through the cracks – not a single one,” said Frelinghuysen, a veteran of the Vietnam War. “Making sure veterans have timely access to medical care is one of the most important things we must do.  For over two years, I have been working with my Congressional colleagues, Sussex Freeholders, state legislators and veterans leaders to bring greater access to health care to veterans in Sussex County by convincing the VA to establish this community health clinic.”

Previously, Frelinghuysen was instrumental in the establishment of a veterans outpatient clinic in Morris Township.  The VA's New Jersey Health Care System consists of two main “campuses" in East Orange and Lyons in Bernards Township with additional satellite clinics in Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hamilton, Jersey City, Paterson, Piscataway and Tinton Falls. Many veterans from Sussex County now use the Morris Twp. clinic - more than an hour's drive from parts of the county.

Financial support for the Sussex CBOC is provided through the annual Military Construction-VA bill drafted by Frelinghuysen’s House Appropriations Committee.  This annual bill provides advanced funding for veterans health care, fully funds veterans’ benefits and programs and contains the dollars to house, train, and equip military personnel, provide housing and services to our troops’ families, and help maintain military base infrastructure.

The clinic is located at 222 High Street in Newton. The clinic will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

-30-