Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would authorize $1.6 billion for the construction and expansion of two major Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
The Fiscal Year 2025 VA Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), would authorize VA to start construction on a new critical care center in West Los Angeles, California, and expand clinical space for mental health facilities in Dallas, Texas.
The bill would greenlight the construction of a new critical care center and central utility plant, demolition, and renovations to Building 500 in West Los Angeles in an amount not to exceed $1.46 billion. It would also allow for the expansion of clinical space for mental 14 health, expansion of parking facilities, and land acquisition in Dallas, in an amount not to exceed $106.4 million.
“Our veterans deserve quality care, and this begins with updated, modernized VA facilities,” said Moran. “This legislation will allow VA to make critical improvements to medical facilities in Texas and California that will better serve veterans in those states for decades to come.”
Blumenthal said improving veteran health care starts with ensuring VA has the modern facilities in place to serve veterans and their families nationwide.
“Our bipartisan bill will deliver new VA construction projects across the country—expanding veterans’ access to the health care they earned and bolstering local economies in the process,” he said.” We also have a sacred obligation to provide VA the funding it needs to modernize its hospitals, nursing homes, and other critical infrastructure projects that have been dramatically underfunded for years.”
VA requested both projects in its annual budget submission to Congress.
The full text of the legislation can be found here. The bill has been referred to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for consideration. Moran serves as the committee's chairman and Blumenthal is ranking member.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.