(Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement:

"I am pleased that the VA and the City of New Orleans have come to an agreement in selecting a site to rebuild the VA Medical Center, and am extremely pleased they have decided to keep the hospital downtown.  It is important to keep the medical center where the veterans have access to it.

After visiting the site, I know firsthand the problems veterans in New Orleans are having getting the proper care.  The VA and the City of New Orleans are doing as good a job as they can to get care to the veterans; however, it is time to rebuild the Medical Center that was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.  This site is the preferred site of both the VA and the City of New Orleans.

I am also pleased that the VA will be co-located with the Louisiana State University Academic Medical Center.  Studies have shown that teaching hospitals provide the best care, due to the training the students must undergo to become doctors.  It is only right that veterans, who have given their health to protect this country, receive that care.

After all the hard work by the VA and City of New Orleans, it is good they have come to an agreement that will benefit everyone in the region.  I will continue to keep track of the project as it moves ahead and I look forward to visiting the new Medical Center as soon as it is completed."

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