text: This morning, the Veterans Health AdministrationÛªs (VHA) announced that today it will halt emergency room services at the Colmery-OÛªNeil VA Medical Center until the current physician shortage is remedied by the Department of VeteransÛª Affairs (VA). Veterans who have served our nation with duty and honor deserve access to quality health care when they need it. Because Kansas is a rural state, many of our veterans are already forced to travel long distances to visit a VA hospital. Now, Topeka veterans are losing access to the emergency care services they could need at any moment. This is outrageous. It is far past time for Secretary Shinseki and the VA to do their job. I have asked time and again about their failure to address the tremendous shortage of VA physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. It is causing a new VA backlog ÛÒ a backlog of our nationÛªs heroes who are not receiving the health care they need. The news today reaffirms my commitment to making certain the VA provides answers and takes action.