[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRANSFER OF VA FACILITY TO CUSTER COUNTY, MONTANA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RICK HILL

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 20, 2000

  Mr. HILL of Montana. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce this 
legislation in the House. An identical version, S. 2637, has been 
introduced in the Senate by Senators Burns and Baucus of Montana. The 
intent of the bill is quite simple: to transfer ownership of the 
Veterans Hospital from the VA to Custer County, Montana. For many 
years, this hospital operated at full capacity to serve Montana 
veterans. Then, it was downgraded to a clinic. The result of this 
change is that the VA only uses a small part of this very large 
facility. Still, the VA is in charge of upkeep and maintenance of the 
entire structure. Until recently, there were about 100 employees and 
only one doctor working for area veterans. The VA estimates that this 
situation is costing $500,000 per year which would be much better spent 
taking care of veterans rather than a building the VA no longer needs.
  This situation is not unique to the VA in Miles City. It is estimated 
that the VA spends $1 million dollars every day on excess properties 
around this country. At a time when budgets are tight and when we are 
having a difficult time honoring the commitments this country made to 
our veterans, the current situation is simply unacceptable.
  What is a liability to the Veterans Administration can be an asset to 
the town of Miles City and Custer County. In a town of some 8,000 
people, the change in the VA mission has cost the economy 145 full-time 
quality jobs with a $7 million decline in payroll in just the last 6 
years. For a town whose top two industries are agriculture and 
government jobs, that's a significant loss. The community could have, 
understandably, objected to the mission change. Instead, community 
leaders have banded together and devised a plan that works for the 
town, the VA and our veterans.
  The community's main objective for the transfer is long-term economic 
development which includes: relocation of distance learning technology 
to a tech center site in the VA complex, development of a multi-purpose 
day care, work force training site, career development site, food bank 
distribution site, and potential office space to be rented for start-up 
business opportunities.
  Community colleges traditionally have been recognized as key to 
sustainable economic development through the training opportunities 
they offer. MCC is located across the street from the VA hospital. 
Their curriculum will benefit greatly with steady access to this 
facility. MCC will train individuals for today's job market, including 
training for tech jobs that would be included in the tech center.
  The $500,000 savings achieved annually through this transfer will be 
used for new outpatient clinics in rural Montana. That represents a 
significant benefit to our veterans who currently have to travel 
extraordinary distances to access the care promised them. In rural 
states like Montana, accessability to health care is a very real 
problem and another reason that this legislation makes so much sense.
  The alternative to legislative action to transfer the property is a 
long, laborious bureaucratic process that involves several federal 
agencies and that can take years to complete. That process can cost 
several million dollars, not to mention the continuing expense of the 
VA maintaining the excess property. Our approach will expedite the 
process, saving the VA money for veterans and, at the same time, jump-
starting economic development for a town in serious trouble.

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