WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam H. Putnam (FL-12) today applauded the Bush Administration’s decision to proceed with plans to build an inpatient bed tower at the Tampa VA Medical Center.

“I want to thank President Bush and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi for their continued commitment to the hundreds of thousands of veterans in Central Florida,” said Putnam. “This addition will improve access and quality of care for our veterans.”

These changes are part of a comprehensive plan called “Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES),” which will modernize and improve the VA’s healthcare system.  Among the elements of the Secretary's CARES decision are more than 150 new community-based outpatient clinics, potential creation of four new -- and expansion of five existing -- spinal cord injury centers, two new blind rehabilitation centers, and expansions throughout VA’s health care system that will enhance veterans’ access to VA care.

“The Tampa VAMC is an active medical center that is aging and in need of significant upgrades to ensure that patients receive care in a safe and efficient health care environment,” said Putnam.  “The addition of a new bed tower at the facility will resolve pressing infrastructure and safety issues.”

About 451,000 of Florida's 1.8 million veterans were treated last year in VA's health care facilities, up 55% from 290,000 in 2000.  In 2003, VA spent $4.2 billion in Florida, an increase of 35.5% from the $3.1 billion level three years before.

The James A. Haley VA Medical Center is a 327 bed tertiary care teaching hospital, with 300 authorized nursing home care beds (180 in Tampa, and 120 in Orlando) and is dedicated to providing the highest quality of patient care and services to veterans in Central Florida. The hospital was activated in 1972 and is affiliated with the University of South Florida College of Medicine. The hospital was renamed after James Andrew Haley in 1978. Congressman Haley, who represented Central Florida, was Chair of the Hospital Subcommittee of the Veterans Affairs Committee, and was directly responsible for the placement of the facility in Tampa.