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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

More than $35 in President Obama’s Budget Request for a Multi-Specialty Veterans Clinic in Ponce and for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects in Puerto Rico

Washington, DC – In his budget submission to Congress for Fiscal Year 2013, President Barack Obama has requested that Congress allocate over $20 million for three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Puerto Rico, and over $15 million to begin the process of replacing the current VA Clinic in Ponce with a new, state-of-the-art “Multi-Specialty Clinic,” Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today.

The three Corps of Engineers projects in Puerto Rico for which funding is sought are $14.25 million for additional flood control improvements along Río Puerto Nuevo in Metropolitan San Juan, $6 million to complete the Portugués Dam in Ponce, and $100,000 to finalize plans for the Caño Martín Peña project.

With respect to the funding requested to complete the Portugués Dam, the Resident Commissioner said: “This is good news for Ponce. Last year, we secured nearly $45 million in federal funding to continue construction of the Dam. The Dam, once completed with the $6 million that the President has proposed for next year, will protect 40,000 residents and over 13,000 homes in Ponce from a potential flood.”
“I am also pleased that, after we obtained nearly $7 million in federal funding last year for flood control improvements along Río Puerto Nuevo, the President has requested an additional $14.25 million for this project, which will accelerate its completion. Specifically, this funding will be used to improve flood protection for the area between De Diego Bridge and the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge. Overall, this project protects 7,500 residents and over 700 structures,” Pierluisi added.

In the case of Caño Martín Peña, the Resident Commissioner continues to push the federal government to support this important project. Martin Peña Channel is approximately 3.8 miles long, and connects the San Juan Bay Estuary to the San José Lagoon in San Juan. The channel is contaminated and of poor environmental quality.
“To be able to complete the studies necessary for the project to move to the next phase, the Corps of Engineers needs the $100,000 that was included in President Obama’s budget request. This is more welcome news,” said Pierluisi, who recognized the efforts that have also been undertaken in support of these projects by Governor Luis Fortuño’s administration, the Mayor of Ponce, María “Mayita” Meléndez, and the Mayor of San Juan, Jorge Santini.

Great Achievement for Puerto Rico Veterans

With respect to the new Multi-Specialty VA Clinic in Ponce, for which the President requested $15 million in 2013, the Resident Commissioner explained that the clinic will provide many more services than are provided at other VA clinics around the Island, and that the new clinic will help relieve congestion at the VA Medical Center in San Juan.

“Since 2009, I have been focused on the goal of obtaining a new facility in Ponce so that veterans in the south and southwest part of the Island do not need to travel to San Juan to obtain the care they deserve. This clinic should be opened as soon as possible,” said the Resident Commissioner.

The new facility will be 114,300 square feet, whereas the current facility is only 56,550 square feet. It will have 915 parking spaces and provide expanded, state-of-the art outpatient services. All current services will continue to be provided, including: Primary Care; Mental Health Clinic; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Surgery; Laboratory; Pharmacy; Radiology; Audiology; Eye Clinic; Prosthetics; Sterile Processing and Distribution; and Acquisition and Material Management Service.

In addition, the replacement clinic will enhance and expand the following programs: Women’s Care, Audiology and Speech Pathology, and Home Care.

Finally, the replacement clinic will also add several new programs that are not currently available: Chemotherapy, Gastroenterology, a Day Hospital (a special facility that enables the patient to come to the hospital for treatment during the day and return at night), and an Imaging Center, which will include an MRI Center.

“In the past three years, VA health facilities in Puerto Rico have received more federal funding than ever before in the Island’s history. That funding includes hundreds of millions of dollars for a multi-phase renovation and expansion of the VA hospital in San Juan, the inauguration of three new clinics in Utuado, Comerío y Vieques, and new clinics that are scheduled to come on-line soon in Ceiba and Mayagüez.

Every time I speak with our veterans in individual meetings or at forums my office organizes, I take very seriously the concerns they express. After all they have sacrificed, they deserve to be treated exactly the same as their fellow veterans living in the states,” said Pierluisi.