We, the undersigned, respectfully submit this petition to strongly oppose the closure of the Schenectady Veterans Administration Clinic located in Rotterdam, New York.

This clinic provides essential healthcare services to veterans in Schenectady County and the surrounding Capital Region. Its closure would create significant barriers to care for those who have served our country, many of whom rely on this facility for routine checkups, mental health services, and ongoing treatment of service-related conditions. The Schenectady VA Clinic is a vital community resource that ensures veterans receive timely, compassionate, and consistent care close to home.

Closing this clinic would:

• Force veterans to travel longer distances for care, creating hardship; especially for elderly, disabled, or low-income individuals
• Increase wait times and overcrowding at other VA facilities
• Disrupt continuity of care, potentially worsening health outcomes
• Undermine the commitment our nation has made to provide accessible, high-quality care to veterans

We urge the Department of Veterans Affairs and all relevant decision-makers to:

1. Halt any plans to close the Schenectady VA Clinic
2. Invest in maintaining and improving services at this location or another within Rotterdam

We respectfully demand that the Schenectady VA Clinic remain open and fully operational.