Tester, Moran Bill Authorizing Construction of VA Major Medical Facilities Heads to President’s Desk

Senators’ bipartisan legislation authorizing several construction projects to serve veterans passes House

Bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) authorizing several Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects is headed to the President’s desk after passing the U.S. House of Representatives today.

“VA medical facilities provide a wide range of critical health care services to veterans and their families in every corner of the country,” said Chairman Tester. “House passage of our bipartisan bill means we’re on track to deliver key projects that’ll create jobs and expand quality care to veterans nationwide, and I look forward to President Biden quickly signing this legislation into law.”

“Providing veterans with quality care requires renovation and construction of new facilities to meet the changing needs of veterans,” said Ranking Member Moran. “I look forward to the President quickly signing this legislation into law, so we can bring additional services to veterans through new and updated VA medical centers around the country.”

Each year, VA projects receive yearly appropriations for the amount of funds needed for a project’s increment of annual work. The Senators’ Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2021 provides authorization for the following seven projects for fiscal year 2021:

• Realignment and closure of the Livermore Campus in Livermore, California at $455 million;
• Seismic corrections to the mental health and community living center in Long Beach, California at $367 million;
• Spinal cord injury building with a community living center and parking garage in San Diego, California at $252 million;
• Spinal cord injury center in Dallas, Texas at $249 million;
• Specialty care building in American Lake, Washington at $110 million;
• Community living center and domiciliary and outpatient facilities in Canandaigua, New York at $383 million; and
• Outpatient clinic and national cemetery in Alameda, California at $266 million.

Text of the Senators’ bill can be found HERE.