For Immediate Release

December 21, 2001

VA GRANT WILL ASSURE RETSIL RECONSTRUCTION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the expenditure of $30.73 million to construct new skilled nursing facilities at the Veterans Home at Retsil, replacing existing structures that are outdated and costly to maintain, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks said Friday.

        The current buildings are in need of significant structural repair, as well as other upgrades to meet current earthquake and safety codes, especially after damages sustained in the Feb. 28th earthquake in the state, Rep. Dicks said.

        The congressman said he has learned from agency officials that the funds have been allocated in order to match $16 million provided by the State of Washington to build a new 240-bed modern facility that can effectively serve the long-term care needs of a growing veteran population.  The new structure will consolidate long-term nursing care in Retsil, generating significant operating cost savings that will be reinvested to provide vital short-term comprehensive rehabilitation services to younger veterans at the Veterans Home in Orting, the congressman said.

        In addition, the Retsil campus will continue to provide 100 beds of light nursing care, which will be upgraded over time through a combination of renovation and new construction.

       "I am very pleased that the VA has responded to this urgent need for modernizing these facilities for the veterans in our state who are most in need," said Rep. Dicks.   "The consolidation plan prepared by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs was a thoughtful and cost-effective response to these requirements, assuring its high ranking among the many requests for federal funding," he added.

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