Secretary McDonough

Thank you, Adam Farina, for that warm welcome and my thanks to Conrad Washington for helping organize today’s event. Most of all, thanks to all our faith-based and community partners, Veterans, and VA teammates participating today.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the official opening of one of its newest clinics in South Tampa, Florida. Sabal Park Clinic provides a comprehensive suite of services – including primary care, mental health, social work, and dietetics.

Today, on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, VA announced the creation of a new grant program to help service members and their spouses transition from the military to civilian life.

Maureen Roepsch is an Air Force and Coast Guard Vet who comes from a long line of military service—her family members served in Vietnam, the Korean War, and World War II. Maureen qualifies for community care, but chooses to get her care at the Manchester VA Medical Center.

Good afternoon, everyone. Francys [Crevier, CEO], thanks for the invitation to join you on this tribal land, the ancestral homeland of the Nacotchtank and Piscataway people.

As a part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, the Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its Close to Me cancer care program.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you again for joining us for the secretary's press conference. I know we have some new faces online, so to those who are in attendance for the very first time online, just use the ‘raise your hand’ function and my team will be monitoring that and they'll be able to acknowledge you.

David Isaacks, thanks for that kind introduction. Thank you also for your leadership of VISN 8, our largest health care network, and your service to our nation as a United States Marine.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that Veteran trust in VA outpatient care has increased to 91.8% — up from 85.6% in 2018 (the first year since VA began conducting this survey).Veteran trust has increased during each of the past six years.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will launch the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program, May 31 — to help more than 40,000 Veterans experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.

Dr. Rodriguez [Lena, Senior Vice Pres., HACU], thanks for that kind introduction, and for inviting me to spend some time with so many here today who are devoted to the success of America’s students.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has enrolled 401,006 Veterans in VA health care over the past 365 days — 30% more than the 307,831 it enrolled the previous year. This is the most yearly enrollees in at least the past five years at VA, and nearly a 50% increase over pandemic-level enrollment in 2020.