MEASURE AUTHORIZES NEW VA HOSPITAL IN ORLANDO AND NEW CONSTRUCTION AT GAINESVILLE VA HOSPITAL

Washington, Nov 20, 2006 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala), a senior members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, is leading efforts to urge Senate action on H.R. 5815, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act.  Stearns spearheaded a letter sent to Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and to Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), the Ranking Democrat, asking for Senate action on H.R. 5815.  The House approved H.R. 5815 in September.

The letter states, "This critical legislation would authorize several major construction projects and leases, which would improve, renovate and update patient care facilities at various locations around the nation.  In addition to addressing long-expected construction needs, H.R. 5815 authorizes essential funds required for restoration, new construction or replacement for facilities damaged in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina."

"In addition, H.R. 5815 authorizes $85 million for new construction at the Gainesville VA Hospital, a new VA hospital in Orlando, and the expansion of the spinal cord injury center in Tampa," explained Stearns.  "It also authorizes construction of an ambulatory surgery/outpatient diagnostic support center in Lee County, Florida, and a report on the various options for placing a VA Medical Center in Okaloosa County, Florida."

Fourteen members of the Florida delegation joined Stearns is signing the letter: Reps. Bill Young, Tom Feeny, Ric Keller, John Mica, Katherine Harris, Corrine Brown, Ginny Brown-Waite, Connie Mack, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Adam Putnam, Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Robert Wexler, and Michael Bilirakis.