(Washington, DC) Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement:
“I am extremely pleased that President Obama signed HR 6375, the VA Major Construction Authorization and Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2012. Among many worthy projects included in this legislation the bill authorizes for construction to be completed on the operating rooms at the Miami VA Medical Center.
When I originally heard about the problems the Miami VAMC was having finishing the project, I had an onsite visit at the facility to see for myself the hurdles to solving the problem. The original plan for this project was to divide the operating room in half and renovate it in stages. When I visited the Medical Center in June, I heard directly from the administrators of the facility about the project. The planners on the ground realized soon after the construction began that patients could have been put at risk due to contamination of the operating room by the construction on the other side of the room. This project is over 95% completed and there is a dire need for this Medical Center to be whole, with veterans from all over the State of Florida traveling there for treatment.
Every month this construction was delayed, the VA had to pay an additional $500,000 for a portable operating room. Since this was first brought to our attention in May, that amount will be over $3 million as of the end of October: money that could be better spent on the veterans of Florida for their care and comfort.
After meeting with the VA and House VA Committee leadership, I urged quick passage of a bill to give the VA authority to finish the project. This legislation is long overdue and I am pleased that Secretary Shinseki has the tools needed to serve the veterans of Florida.
It is high time for this time for this legislation to become law. I applaud President Obama for signing it and allowing for the construction to be completed in Miami. Certainly, our veterans deserve the best care that they have earned with their service protecting the freedoms our nation hold so dear."