FIRM HIRED TO CONDUCT THE ASSESSMENTS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION THIS YEAR

Washington, Mar 8, 2005 - "The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a contract to Lewis Sculley Gionet Inc. and Earth Tech to conduct the environmental assessments (EAs) on two sites for the new VA cemetery in Jacksonville," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-6th), author of the language creating the new cemetery. "The plan calls for completing the EAs in 2005 and by December 2005 a preferred site will be recommended to the VA Secretary. If the site is accepted and the funds provided, the property will be purchased in 2006 with construction in 2008. It is important to ensure funding each year to conduct each step of the process, and I will continue to work toward that funding. "

Stearns, a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, started offering legislation in 1996 to establish a new VA cemetery in Jacksonville. H.R. 1516, the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, included language from Stearns legislation directing the VA to establish a national cemetery in the Jacksonville metropolitan area.