Blumenthal & Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Fully Fund West Haven VA Facility Improvements & New VA Facilities Nationwide
$153 million in FY24 federal budget for West Haven VA to begin work on new clinical & surgical tower & other long overdue upgrades; Bill would authorize funding up to $500 million for entire project
[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Chris Murphy (D-CT), joined Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS) in introducing bipartisan legislation to authorize several Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects across the nation.
The senators’ Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act would authorize 11 VA construction projects in Connecticut, Washington, Texas, Maryland, Oregon, Nevada, California, Puerto Rico, and Missouri.
The West Haven VA Hospital will receive $153 million, appropriated through the federal budget, for the construction of a new surgical and clinical space tower on the West Haven VA campus, as well as the renovation of major buildings and demolition projects. The new bill would authorize up to $500 million for these critical improvements to ensure that the West Haven VA is fully modernized and can complete these long overdue renovations.
“VA facilities need to be moved into the 21st century. We’ve delivered $153 million for renovations to the West Haven VA. This new act will mean another half a billion dollars,” said Blumenthal on Monday at a press conference at the West Haven VA. “Men and women who have served their country deserve the very best – the gold standard in medical care. That’s what new facilities will enable. You simply cannot deliver world class medicine in substandard buildings.”
“It’s no secret the West Haven VA is in need of serious upgrades. Investing in a new surgical and clinical tower will provide veterans living in Connecticut with the high-quality, modern and accessible services they deserve. We have a duty of care to those who served our country, and I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce this important legislation,” said Murphy.
The Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act is also cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA).
This legislation builds upon historic infrastructure investments in the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The PACT Act invested in VA’s infrastructure workforce through new recruitment and retention incentives, provides funding for 31 new facilities in 19 states, and delivers additional tools to build clinics more efficiently in the future including with the Department of Defense and academic hospitals. The legislation also gave VA expanded authority to repurpose or lease out unused or vacant Department buildings benefiting veterans and saving taxpayer funds in the process.
Video of Blumenthal’s remarks in West Haven can be found here.
The full bill text is available here.
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