Wilmington, DE – Senator Tom Carper will tour the Wilmington VA Medical Center along with United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony J. Principi on Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at 9:00 a.m. Secretary Principi was nominated by President Bush on December 29, 2000, and confirmed by the Senate on January 12, 2001. The Secretary heads the federal government’s second largest department, with a multi-billion dollar budget that provides health care services, benefits programs and burial in national cemeteries for America’s 24 million veterans and their dependents. The Wilmington VA Medical Center combines a 58 bed hospital and a 60 bed nurse and home care unit, offering veterans the unique opportunity to obtain health care and benefits services at one location. WHO: U.S. Senator Tom Carper U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi Dexter Dix, Director of Wilmington VA Medical Center Charlene Szabo, Acting Director of VA Stars & Stripes Healthcare Network WHAT: Tour of Wilmington VA Medical Center WHEN: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 9:00am-9:40am Tour Wilmington VA Medical Center with Sen. Carper and Sec. Principi 9:45am-9:55am Media availability with Sen. Carper and Sec. Principi WHERE: Wilmington VA Medical Center 1601 Kirkwood Highway Wilmington, DE 19805 Visuals: interior and exterior of hospital, Sen. Carper and Sec. Principi interacting with patients