Representative Henry A. Waxman 30th District of California

In 1888, two families donated ranch land in southern California to the federal government on the condition that it be used to “permanently maintain” an Old Soldiers Home.  Today, those 388 acres of land make up the West LA VA, the largest VA medical center in the nation. 

View 1888 Deed

Despite the terms of the deed, the Department of Veterans Affairs allowed various private and commercial uses of the land.  In the 110th Congress, Representative Waxman and Senator Feinstein introduced legislation to permanently prohibit the disposal of or commercial development of the West LA VA property.  Their legislation was enacted on December 26, 2007 as Section 224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008:

Sec. 224.  Prohibition on Disposal of Department of Veterans Affairs Lands and Improvements at West Los Angeles Medical Center, California.  (a)  In General – The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not declare as excess to the needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or otherwise take any action to exchange, trade, auction, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, or reduce the acreage of, Federal land and improvements at the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Medical Center, California, encompassing approximately 388 acres on the north and south sides of Wilshire Boulevard and west of the 405 Freeway.

Section 224 keeps the promise the federal government made to veterans and guarantees that the West LA VA will be there for them in perpetuity.

View Section 224

Rep Waxman is also a strong proponent of a congressionally mandated comprehensive master plan for the West LA VA campus as a way to plan for and maximize services for veterans. 

View Comprehensive Master Plan

In addition, since 2004, the Department of Veterans Affairs has undergone a process called the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) to evaluate the level of services provided to our nation’s veterans.  During this process on September 6, 2007, the VA held its third meeting of the CARES Local Advisory Panel. Congressman Waxman submitted a statement in strong opposition to commercial development or sale of the West LA VA.

On September 27, 2007, Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Nicholson announced his CARES decision for the West LA VA.  In his decision, he established a plan to modernize the inpatient and outpatient mental health services and a new state-of-the-art acute care patient tower and nursing home.  He also ordered the construction of a new VA columbarium and a new facility for the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office to be housed on the property.  In addition, Secretary Nicholson designated three buildings on the West LA VA to be made available for homeless veterans programs.

The implementation of the CARES decision for the West LA VA is currently underway.