European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 s t a an d s sunday March 16 2qq7 House investigates vip Ward at Walter Reed stars and stripes House investigators Are look ing into allegations that Walter Reed army medical Center is pro Viding  accommodations to vip patients in a Plush Ward at the main Hospital Usa today reported on Friday the Eisenhower executive nursing suite features antique furniture dining rooms with Fine China Fla panel televisions and bulletproof windows according to interviews and photos obtained by the newspaper Hospital administrators told Usa today the suites which Cost a year to maintain Are reserved for High ranking govern ment and military officials As Well As foreign dignitaries the Only enlisted military eligible to stay there Are recipients of the medal of Honor but the care is exactly the same that is Given to every other patient at Walter Reed said retired army it Gen Ronald Blanck a former Hospital commander and a recent patient in the Ward during Cataract sur Gery officials told the newspaper that the Stafft patient ratio is the same in the rest of Walter Reed As in the vip Ward rep John Tierney mass told Usa today that a subcommittee charged with handling the con Gressional investigation will look into the vip Ward to see if the Al locations of resources is in any Way adversely impacting the treatment of the troops the conditions in building 18 at Walter Reed army medical Center in Washington do was the source of much controversy earlier this year now the House is looking into whether a vip Section of the Hospital provides special treatment to some wounded the Washington Post panel votes to bar closure of medical Center by Steve Vogel the Washington Post Washington the House appropriations committee unanimously approved a measure thursday that bars the closure of Walter Reed army medical Cen Ter an action supporters say will reverse plans to shut the Hospital in 2011 the provision attached to a Bill with additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghani Stan blocks the use of any Feder Al funding to close Walter Reed removing a base that has been chosen for closure by the depart ment of defense base realign ment and closure commission would be unprecedented the system created an Independent commission to make the Deci Sions was adopted by Congress to prevent political interference with base closures but recent disclosures of serious problems with the Lon term care of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed have sparked Calls in con Gress and elsewhere to reverse the decision senior army officials also suggested the decision be reconsidered this is a done Deal rep James Moran Eva a commit tee member said after the hear ing Walter Reed will stay open and Del Eleanor Holmes Norton dec declared i can say without fear of contradiction its not going to close Walter Reed was selected to be closed in 2005 by the commis Sion known As Brac the recommendation which Congress approved and president Bush signed into Law Calls for the army Hospital to be consolidated with the National naval medical Center in Bethesda my where a billion expansion is being planned amendment came muscle including the support of rep John Murtha spa and rep Bill Young Fla the ranking Mem Bers of the appropriations Mili tary subcommittee a spokes Man for Murtha Matt Mazon key said the prospects for approval by Congress Are Good but that some members May be Loath to open up the Brac process for other reversals Jeremiah Gertler a senior Ana Lyst for the 1995 Brac commis Sion said earlier this month that Congress would have to invalidate the existing regulation and create a new Law Best deals online  please ask about other destinations last minute booking of across Yokohama it Isi 11 00200 Oft Juu is no Lanui Holiday to import inti Only Cardi at inform in if you red hmm a thou in str ten wrote Shimura motors just Call Shimura motors specializing in title transfers junking Call or Shimura cell phone 09091302757 email Tokyo shop 4218 Fukazawa Seta Gayak Tokyo 1580081 Yokota Zama Sagami Tama Hills wit can pick up Well Cham used cars in vow cd cars Best prices around just a 2 minute walk from yes Hijii main Date arid p to 100 guaranteed to pass on base inspection land transportation office to service free of maintenance services cars scrapped for free Al will Chen Uick can for the Deal Call or Ace John in English or japanese 15455 a Yasushi Kana awaken Tel 10467 775427 1 a 775407 cell mini sat a fish Ella Hascom