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CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Resident Commisioner, Luis Fortuño, announced the authorization of $232.2 million for improvements to the Veterans Hospital in San Juan and a new outpatient clinic in Mayagüez. The multimillion dollar authorization of funds is included in The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility and Authorization and Lease Act of 2008, which authorizes funds for the construction and improvement of Veterans Hospitals throughout the nation. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and could proceed to a vote on the House floor before the Memorial Day recess. "The bill authorizes $225.9 million to correct critical deficiencies at the Veterans Hospital in San Juan and $6.3 million for the VA to lease and a new outpatient clinic in Mayagüez", announced the Resident Commissioner, emphaszing that this significant achievement was a response to the efforts of the veterans’ community in Puerto Rico, which for years has been calling attention to infrastructure problems at the Veterans Hospital. "This is a huge step towards a new era of medical services for Puerto Rico’s veterans. Together, our efforts have ensured that Congress recognizes that there is a great necessity to improve the medical facilities on the Island so that veterans can receive services of the highest caliber,” said Fortuño. With this authorization, construction pursuant to Phase 2 of the hospital improvement plan can begin. Under Phase 1, which is nearly complete, a six-story tower with 314 beds is being built. Phase 2 includes money to upgrade the main hospital building, to provide the necessary emergency sustainment features, to add fire sprinklers throughout Building 1, to remove existing asbestos, and to add additional parking to address the shortage that affects the more than 15,000 patients that receive services at the facility. With respect to the outpatient clinic in Mayagüez, Fortuño emphasized that it “will be equipped with the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art equipment to offer veterans in the western part of Puerto Rico the medical services they deserve after having served the nation with such pride and valor.” The new clinic is expected to begin operations in 2011. Currently, the Resident Commissioner is advocating for the approval of H.R. 5526, his bill that would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a Task Force composed of members of the federal and state governments and veterans’ groups on the Island to consider options to further renovate or to replace the Veterans Hopsital in San Juan. (####) |
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