Washington, D.C. (WBEN) - Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) says the Under Secretary for Veterans Affairs believes it's time for Buffalo to get a new VA hospital. This comes after a visit to the facility in September.
Kennedy recalled the visit in September by Dr. Shereef Elnahal to the Buffalo VA.
"You were able to see first-hand the issues we’re dealing with at that facility - a crumbling hospital that was built in the 1940s, no air conditioning, hardly any parking, room sizes not up to code, the list goes on and on," said Kennedy. "You saw first-hand the Buffalo VA hospital is in desperate need of resources, and frankly, we need a new VA hospital. This is a priority for me."
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When asked if he agreed, Under Secretary Elnahal confirmed.
"I think the Buffalo-area veterans do deserve better infrastructure," said Elnahal. "My visit was really one of the highlights of the last several months for me. Getting to meet the team there, getting to meet the veterans there with you, and Congressman [Nick] Langworthy, really, really did show what was needed there. ... I would hope to see new infrastructure at the Buffalo VA Medical Center."
Elnahal says there's a potential partnership with the University at Buffalo to lease facilities conducive to better care for veterans.
"I’m also excited about the potential for a leasing project under PACT Act 704’s authority with the University of Buffalo. We’re exploring the possibility of that," Elnahal added. "That project would be smaller in scale, probably between $300 and $400 million in the form of a lease, but one that would be able to extend access to care to more veterans and one that would afford more modern infrastructure to the veterans in your district."