Gregory Meeks: “Mr. Chairman, this amendment just simply says that no funds in fiscal year 2004 can be used to close the St. Albans…”

“Mr. Chairman, this amendment just simply says that no funds in fiscal year 2004 can be used to close the St. Albans Veterans Facility. Basically, the St. Albans veterans care facility has been a key provider of services and jobs at St. Albans for as long as I can remember. It sits in the heart of my district on what was formerly a military base in Queens County, New York. The St. Albans VA Primary and Extended Care Center provides primary care and offers specialized geriatric programs and restorative rehabilitation. Geriatric programs provide comprehensive evaluation and safe, effective management of elderly cognitively impaired veterans. An outpatient adult day care health care program and home-based primary care program exists and cares for the physically disabled, medically complicated elderly veterans who are at risk of nursing home placement or recurrent hospitalization. A comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation domiciliary program providing incentive therapy, vocational counseling, and independent living skills training for patients seeking to return to independent living is provided by the VA Primary and Extended Care Facility. This facility has 386 beds. This facility provides inpatient extended care services, including skilled nursing, antibiotic therapy, and respite care. Also provided is subacute restorative rehabilitation for the elderly.”