Congresswoman Lois Frankel issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned today as a result of the systemic problems reported at VA health facilities. 

“The mission for the VA is to make sure no veteran is ever left behind. The current investigation into the allegations must continue and the problems must be fixed. Our returning heroes have earned and deserve the health care they need without delay,” Frankel said.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation after California and Texas with more than 1.6 million veterans – 12 percent of the Sunshine State’s population 18 and over. The VA operates six medical centers in Florida. They are located at Bay Pines, Miami, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Gainesville and Lake City. A new VA medical center is under construction in Orlando and is due to open in late 2013.  The VA also operates Outpatient Clinics for health care and Vet Centers for counseling throughout the state.

Congresswoman Frankel is the mother of an Iraq and Afghanistan U.S. Marine war veteran.

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