[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11352-S11353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAHAM of Florida (for himself and Mr. Reid):
  S. 1605. A bill to authorize major medical facility projects for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in connection with the Capital Asset 
Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative and to satisfy Department 
of Veterans Affairs requirements on natural disasters, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
would authorize the construction of new veterans' hospitals in east-
central Florida and Las Vegas, NV. In addition, the legislation would 
enable the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, Medical Center in San 
Juan, Puerto Rico, to sustain operations in the event of a natural 
disaster, such as an earthquake.
  For years now, VA has been under a sort of moratorium for new 
construction projects. This was due to the capital asset realignment 
for enhanced services, CARES, process, which is designed to examine 
VA's infrastructure and try to realign it to better meet the projected 
needs of veterans. Many here in Congress were understandably reluctant 
to invest any valuable dollars in a facility that may ultimately be 
slated for downsizing.
  However, the CARES process is now nearing its end. The CARES 
Commission is in the process of reviewing the national draft plan 
developed by the Under Secretary for Health, and Commissioners will 
make their recommendations to the Secretary by the end of November. The 
Secretary will then make his final decisions on what plans will be 
implemented by the end of the year.
  Included in the national draft plan were two major construction 
initiatives: a new hospital and clinic in Las Vegas, NV, and a new 
facility in east-central Florida. In light of the fact that these two 
projects are the only new hospitals included in the draft plan, and 
that the great need in both of these areas has been well documented, 
the sooner we can get these facilities up and running, the better.
  Veterans living in east-central Florida are in dire need of a full-
fledged VA hospital. One VA report found that since 1996, ``the Central 
Florida market sustained the greatest workload expansion of the entire 
VA system--105 percent.'' Other VA studies have deemed Orlando as ``the 
logical choice for infrastructure investment for all major Inpatient 
and Outpatient categories.'' The decision about where to place a new VA 
hospital in this region falls to VA, but I encourage Secretary Principi 
to carefully study all the options to ensure that the most appropriate 
location is chosen.
  Las Vegas, in Clark County, NV, was recognized by VA as, `` . . . one 
of the fastest growing markets in the U.S.'' VA also acknowledges that 
there is a gap in long-term care accessibility in this area, and that 
contracting in the community is not a viable option as there are 
quality of care issues with the region's private sector facilities. Why 
should we wait to authorize projects whose necessity is broadly 
recognized by veterans and VA alike?
  This legislation would also authorize $30 million for the San Juan VA 
Medical Center to undertake much needed upgrading in order to ensure 
that patient safety is not unnecessarily jeopardized in the event of an 
earthquake. The money would be used to bring the facility in line with 
the CD-54 natural disasters directive, enabling vital services to 
continue to be provided for 7 to 10 days after a disaster. Services 
that would be reinforced by this project are primarily utilities, which 
in some cases provide lifesaving support to patients.
  In 1991, the San Juan VA Medical Center was deemed seismically 
unsound, and other structural deficiencies were uncovered as well. 
Although the Carribean is not normally thought of as a seismic ``hot 
spot,'' the islands are mountainous and severe earthquakes do occur 
there every few decades. The supposed unlikelihood of such an event is 
no reason to not have contingency operations should something actually 
occur. Patient safety is not something that can be gambled with in this 
manner. It is important that we supply the San Juan VA Medical Center 
with the additional resources it needs to make sure that no patient has 
to go without life support in the event of a natural disaster. I was 
disappointed that the San Juan upgrading project was not included in 
VA's draft plan, but regardless, I do believe we have an obligation to 
make these needed repairs.
  Finally, I would like to recognize the efforts of my friend Senator 
Reid in this initiative, who is also facing a rapidly growing veteran 
population in his home State of Nevada. Additionally, I want to thank 
Representative Corrine Brown of the Orlando area, Representative 
Shelley Berkley of Las Vegas, and Representative Anibal Acevedo-Vila of 
Puerto Rico, who have all been very helpful in developing a companion 
bill in the House.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in this effort for our Nation's 
veterans.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1605

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECTS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out the 
     following major medical facility projects, with each project 
     to be carried out in an amount not to exceed the amount 
     specified for that project:
       (1) Construction of a health care facility at a location in 
     East Central Florida selected by the Secretary, as part of 
     the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) 
     initiative, $170,000,000.
       (2) Improvements of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in order to bring 
     that facility into compliance with the CD-54 Natural 
     Disasters Directive, $30,000,000.
       (3) Construction of a health care facility in Las Vegas, 
     Nevada, as part of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced 
     Services initiative, $250,000,000.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2004 
     for the Construction, Major Projects, account, a total of 
     $450,000,000 for the projects authorized in section 1.
       (b) Limitation.--The projects authorized in section 1 may 
     only be carried out using--
       (1) funds appropriated for fiscal year 2004 pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations in subsection (a);
       (2) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for a fiscal year before fiscal year 2004 that remain 
     available for obligation; and
       (3) funds appropriated for Construction, Major Projects, 
     for fiscal year 2004 for a category of activity not specific 
     to a project.
                                  ____

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I join with my colleague, Senator Graham of 
Florida, to introduce legislation that authorizes funding for a new 
veterans' hospital, outpatient clinic and senior center in Southern 
Nevada. Nevada is now the third most popular retirement State in the 
Nation. And many of the retirees who make their homes in Nevada are 
veterans who served our country with courage and honor.
  More than 240,000 veterans live in Nevada, and more than one-third of 
Nevada's residents over age 65 have worn the uniform of the United 
States. Veterans are the cornerstone of our economy. They are also our 
neighbors, our family members and our friends.
  As we welcome these veterans, we must also ensure that they can get 
the services they need--especially medical care. Our veterans put their 
lives on the line for our freedom. They deserve the best health care in 
the world. But we have been struggling to keep up with our fast-growing 
population of veterans.
  Across the Nation, more than 110,000 veterans have waited more than 6 
months for their first medical appointment with the VA. There have been 
some backlogs in booming areas like Las Vegas, which has the highest 
growth rate in the Nation. This new facility should ease some of these 
delays and result in improved care for our veterans.
  I was pleased to learn recently from VA Secretary Anthony Principi 
that he endorsed the building of a new hospital in southern Nevada. 
This bill, which was made possible by the strong leadership of Senator 
Graham of Florida, would authorize $250 million to build this sorely 
needed facility.
  I realize that we have many urgent priorities today, and our 
resources are not unlimited. But this is a matter of national security. 
We have soldiers in

[[Page S11353]]

the desert of Iraq today who volunteered to risk their lives protecting 
our freedom. They willingly put their lives on the line for us. In 
return, we make certain promises to them. One of those promises is that 
they will receive quality health care when they come home. We must keep 
this promise to our troops.
  Right now, I am sorry to say, we are not keeping that promise to the 
Nation's veterans. This bill will help steer us onto the right course, 
and begin to correct that injustice for the veterans in Southern 
Nevada.
  I urge your support of this legislation.
                                 ______