Orlando, FL – U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-Winter Park) said today, “There is encouraging news regarding completion of facilities that are part of the Veterans’ medical complex and hospital in Lake Nona.”

Mica said VA officials provided an update on the hospital’s progress and construction delays and the Congressman was informed that the Veterans’ Affairs agency is still targeting June 2013 for completion of the hospital. Timothy Liezert, Director of the Orlando VA Medical Center, informed Mica and Central Florida Veterans leaders that the energy plan, garage, 60-bed domiciliary facility and chapel are 100 percent complete and that the 120-bed nursing facility will be completed and turned over to the VA in a matter of weeks.

These first four phases of the medical complex have been finished nearly $22 million under originally estimated cost projections. Additionally, VA officials outlined plans for the Baldwin Park Clinic to continue to become a joint Veterans’ Service Facility, providing clinical and primary care, lab, pharmacy and outpatient services. Plans are also underway to establish contract domiciliary care in the underused portion of the existing hospital. This addition will provide transition care services for the growing number of homeless veterans in Central Florida.

Mica has received assurances from Rep. John Culberson, Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, that current appropriations will cover cost increase projections and that this project remains a federal priority.

To mitigate further delays, the primary contractor has been issued a Cure notice pertaining to performance issues that would affect the completion of the facility. Mica said, “The VA also provided me with backup proposals should the agency be unable to solve issues with the current contractors.”

Congressman Mica will also be participating with other Central Florida Representatives in a Congressional field hearing in Orlando on October 13^th to review the construction project.