Group of veterans want VA hospital in Joliet area

On Thursday leaders of both the Illinois House and Senate joined those veterans in calling for a new VA facility at the site of the soon-to-be vacated Silver Cross Hospital.

Veterans in the area currently have to go to VA hospitals in either the west suburbs or in Chicago.

"With Silver Cross leaving that facility, we have the perfect opportunity to make the best out of this situation," said Sen. Debbie Halvorson, Illinois Senate Majority Leader.

The group says there are more than 66,000 veterans in a five county area who would use the new hospital.