[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 158 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12494-S12495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION

  Of the projects authorized under title III of this bill, I am 
especially pleased that we have included the authorizations for 
projects in northern California. I have been concerned that veterans in 
northern California have not been receiving convenient VA health care 
services ever since the Martinez VA Medical Center was closed in 1991.
  The conference agreement authorizes VA to move ahead with plans to 
create an accessible network of VA health care by specifically 
authorizing funds for upgrades and enhancements to McClellan Hospital 
at Mather Field in Sacramento and improvements to the outpatient 
clinics at Mare Island in

[[Page S12495]]

Vallejo and at Martinez. Once the McClellan Hospital is completed, VA 
expects capacity for 55 inpatient beds and 110,000 outpatient visits 
per year, and the projected workload for the outpatient clinics will 
exceed 140,000 outpatient visits per year.

                          ____________________