WASHINGTON, D.C. - Third District Congressman Jon Porter today announced that $199 million for the construction of a new veterans hospital and out-patient clinic in Las Vegas was included in the conference report on H.R. 2528, the “Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006.”  The bill passed the House unanimously.

“With one of the fastest-growing veterans populations in the country, it’s imperative that Southern Nevada is able to meet the increased demand for veterans health care services,” said Porter.  “By building a new veterans facility in Las Vegas, not only will we cut down on overcrowding and travel time, we’ll increase the quality of care our veterans receive.  I was pleased to work with the rest of the delegation to secure this funding and move this important project one step closer to completion.”

The “Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006” now heads to the President for his signature before becoming law.

BACKGROUND:

In February of 2004, the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission recognized the unique needs of Clark County veterans and recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide a new hospital, multi-specialty clinic, and long-term care facility in the Las Vegas area.

Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi announced the final CARES plan in Las Vegas on May 7, 2004.  The Secretary's decision stated that the “VA will move forward to develop a VA medical center campus that will include multi-specialty outpatient, nursing home, and inpatient services to care for the rapidly growing Las Vegas veteran population.  This significant expansion of services to Las Vegas veterans will greatly improve the quality and coordination of care in an area that is experiencing rapid growth.”

On May 24, 2004, former Secretary Principi furthered the VA's commitment to Nevada veterans when he proposed the VA medical complex in Las Vegas as a priority on his list of FY 2004-2010 construction projects, and the VA provided $60 million in direct funding for the advance planning of the project in order to expedite the construction process.

On November 20, 2004, the House and Senate passed the FY 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which included the transfer of a 147-acre parcel of land for the VA medical complex from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

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