Georgia’s two U.S. Senators joined Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough at the Atlanta VA Medical Center on Clairmont Road in Decatur for a formal renaming ceremony Friday.
Georgia’s Congressional delegation was behind the Cleland renaming effort, led by U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock.
“Our commitment to veterans cannot and does not end here. To be sure, truly honoring his legacy means we must keep pushing to support the vital work of the Veterans Administration. And ensure that the bravest among us receive the benefits and the services that they deserve and have dutifully earned,” said Senator Warnock.
Max Cleland lost both legs and his right arm during his service in the Vietnam War. He would eventually become a Georgia State Senator, Administrator of the VA under the Carter Administration, Georgia Secretary of State, and a U.S. Senator.
President Joe Biden served with Cleland during the Georgia Democrat’s one term from 1997 to 2003. Cleland passed away in November of 2021.
Legislation to rename the Atlanta VA after Cleland was passed by Congress last year. The bill, the Max Cleland VA Medical Center Act, was signed by President Biden in December 2022. Other key sponsors of the bill included U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Congresswoman Nikema Williams.
As for the current state of VA healthcare, both of Georgia’s U.S. Senators have brought up issues around the Atlanta call center with Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, who addressed reporters after the renaming ceremony.
“We have expanded staffing for the call center for routine access to the hospital, not for emergency access, for routine access to the hospital…As a result, we’re seeing the time to answer come dramatically down. Abandonment of calls come dramatically down. We’re not there yet, but we’ll stay on top of it.”
While speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Senator Ossoff talked about other issues with VA Secretary McDonough.
“We have, and we will continue to press on wait times for appointments for direct care and for community care referrals. We’ve seen some real progress…We had a robust discussion this morning on the backlog of the adjudication of appeals.”
Friday’s ceremony was also attended by other VA leadership and veterans representing a wide range of groups.
