II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 699 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2009 Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To provide for the construction by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a full service hospital in Far South Texas.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009.

2.

Findings; definition

(a)

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)The current and future health care needs of veterans residing in the Far South Texas area are not being fully met by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2)The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that more than 117,000 veterans reside in Far South Texas. (3)In its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services study, the Department of Veterans Affairs found that fewer than three percent of its enrollees in the Valley-Coastal Bend Market of Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 reside within its acute hospital access standards. (4)Travel times for veterans from the market referred to in paragraph (3) can exceed six hours from their residences to the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs hospital for acute inpatient health care. (5)Even with the significant travel times, veterans from Far South Texas demonstrate a high demand for health care services from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (6)Current deployments involving members of the Texas National Guard and Reservists from Texas will continue to increase demand for medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b)

Definition

In this Act, the term Far South Texas means the following counties of the State of Texas: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Crockett, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Goliad, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata.

3.

Construction of major medical facility in Far South Texas

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the construction of a major medical facility project in Far South Texas consisting of a full service Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. (b)

Facility location

The facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be located in a county in Far South Texas that the Secretary determines to be most appropriate to meeting the health care needs of veterans in Far South Texas. (c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report identifying and outlining the determination of the Secretary under subsection (b) and a detailed estimate of the cost of and time necessary for completion of the project required by subsection (a). (d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009 for the Construction, Major Projects account such sums as may be necessary for the project required by subsection (a).