Jerry Moran: “I recently introduced H.R. 4514, the Veterans' Major Medical Facilities Construction Act of 2002, a bill to improve…”

“I recently introduced H.R. 4514, the Veterans' Major Medical Facilities Construction Act of 2002, a bill to improve, renovate and update 10 VA medical facility construction projects with $285 million in authorizations to fund them in fiscal year 2003. This bill will help provide safe, accessible VA medical centers for veterans to receive their health care. Some of these VA medical centers have been around for more than 100 years. The Veterans Administration cares for millions of veterans. These aging facilities are deteriorating and must be maintained. As Chairman Smith indicated, the VA is not moving fast enough with the CARES system to meet their infrastructure needs. The facility improvement projects we would authorize with this bill are VA's highest construction priorities: corrections to fire safety and seismic risks in Palo Alto; replacement of mechanical and electrical equipment in Cleveland; seismic bracing in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego; asbestos abatement and various in-patient facility improvements in Tampa; patient privacy improvements in West Haven. These are but a few of the VA's most pressing capital investment needs.”