Gov. Abbott to join Cornyn, VA secretary in Valley tour

Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled to join U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald during a tour of the Rio Grande Valley on Monday, the senator's office announced in a news release Friday.

The congressional delegation to the Valley -- U.S. reps Ruben Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville; and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo -- are also scheduled to join the daylong tour, Cornyn's office said.

The group of elected officials is scheduled to join McDonald in a roundtable discussion in Harlingen on Monday morning to discuss the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's plans for a new medical school.

Then the delegation, minus Abbott, is scheduled to go to McAllen to visit with local veterans as well as visit the McAllen Veterans War Memorial, near the McAllen Convention Center.

Retired Gen. Ricardo Sanchez is also scheduled to participate in the McAllen event, Cornyn's office said. A luncheon is scheduled during which Cornyn and McDonald with discuss the state of veteran's health care on stage.

Cornyn and the Valley delegation have independently invited McDonald to visit the Valley to see first-hand the state of health care provided to veterans in the region. This is the VA secretary's first visit to the region.

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