[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 20 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLARD (for himself and Mr. Salazar):
  S. 472. A bill to authorize a major medical facility project for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs at Denver, Colorado; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill to fully 
authorize the necessary funds needed to complete the construction of a 
new VA medical facility near Denver, CO. I am joined by my colleague 
Senator Salazar on this important legislation. Thankfully, Congress 
authorized approximately 16 percent of the needed funds for this 
project last year in order to finalize planning and site acquisition. 
That is a promising start that enables the project planners to begin 
the serious business of building this hospital. Although this was a 
tremendous step forward, there is still a great deal more that needs to 
be accomplished in order for this hospital to become a reality.
  The current Denver VA hospital was built ``more than 50 years ago and 
as we are all well aware, medical technology has far surpassed what the 
builders of the Denver VA originally envisioned. This facility, which 
hosted the first liver transplant in 1963, has provided tremendous care 
over the years, but simply does not have the infrastructure to continue 
to provide our veterans the care they need in the 21st century. While I 
cannot say enough about the care and service our veterans receive at 
the current facility, many changes and improvements can and should be 
made, and a new facility is the only way to accomplish these goals.
  This new VA hospital to be located at Fitzsimons campus and the 
former home of the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center will carry on a 
strong tradition of providing exceptional medical care for our Nation's 
best and bravest citizens. The current Fitzsimons campus first began 
treating wounded veterans in 1918, specializing in assisting those who 
had been victims of chemical weapons in world War I. The facility 
continued to grow through the 20th century and became one of the 
premiere Veterans hospitals through World War II. Fitzsimons was even 
unofficially deemed the ``White House of the West'' when President 
Eisenhower spent 7 weeks in the facility while recovering from a heart 
condition in 1955. Fitzsimons Hospital was even the birthplace of my 
colleague, Senator Kerry.
  The new facility will provide an example of successful collaboration 
between numerous parties and will be the culmination of years of hard 
work. The Denver VA, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center 
and the University of Colorado Hospital already have a complex and 
rewarding partnership in meeting veterans' healthcare needs in the 
region, and all are partnered together on this unique project. The 
University of Colorado, who currently owns the land for the new 
hospital, strongly supports the move of the existing Denver VA medical 
facility to the Fitzsimons Campus in Aurora, CO, and looks forward to 
strengthening their partnership with the Veterans Administration, 
allowing each entity to focus on its strengths.
  Of course, the biggest endorsement of this new facility comes 
ultimately from the end-users: our veterans. The United Veterans 
Committee of Colorado, a coalition of 45 federally chartered veterans' 
service organizations, strongly supports the relocation of the Denver 
VA medical center to the Fitzsimons campus and has worked closely with 
my office and the Colorado congressional delegation over the years to 
ensure its success.

  Of course, not too long ago it looked like this project was in peril. 
Thankfully, in 2005 Secretary Nicholson brought a much-needed, fresh 
perspective to this project. He made it a priority and made it clear to 
the entire Colorado delegation that he would pursue every opportunity 
to make the project a reality. I commend his efforts and thank him for 
his support. It is also important to mention the hard work and 
diligence of those in Colorado who have also worked to ensure the 
success of this new hospital. Without the extraordinary efforts put 
forth by the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority and its chairman, city 
of Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer, an agreement would not have been reached on 
the ultimate location of the Hospital.
  I strongly support authorization of this hospital and look forward to 
seeing the completion of the new VA medical facility which undoubtedly 
will serve as a regional beacon for modern veteran medical care science 
not only for veterans in Colorado but throughout the entire Rocky 
Mountain region as well.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, today Senator Allard and I are 
introducing a bill that will authorize full funding for a state-of-the-
art veterans' hospital at the Fitzsimons campus in Aurora, CO.
  This crown jewel of our veterans' health system will serve more than 
424,000 veterans who live in Colorado, and many more who live in nearby 
States, with the best available health care. Our veterans deserve the 
best, and Fitzsimons will be the best.
  Since the VA identified the Fitzsimons VA Hospital as one of its top 
medical construction projects in 2004, I have fought to move this 
project forward, although we've encountered some hurdles along the way.
  But we are making progress. I helped bring all the stakeholders 
together in 2005 so that supporters of the project, and advocates for 
veterans' health care, could speak with one voice on Fitzsimons. Thanks 
in part to this dialogue, in February of 2006 the VA finally reached 
agreement with the Fitzsimons Authority on the purchase price of 24 
acres at the site.
  And just 2 months ago, in December, I was pleased that the omnibus 
veterans' bill we passed, S. 3421, included a $98 million authorization 
for Fitzsimons that was so desperately needed to keep the project on 
track. Senator Allard and I fought hard for that authorization because 
it allowed the VA to use unspent project funds from previous years, and 
to begin spending more on the critical initial phases of the project.
  Today, Senator Allard and I are introducing a bill that will complete 
the authorization for Fitzsimons VA Hospital. Our bill authorizes the 
remaining $523 million necessary to complete the project. It is a 
straightforward bill that we should pass as soon as possible to ensure 
we don't run into any costly construction delays down the road.
  I spoke with Secretary Nicholson about this project just last week, 
and he reiterated his commitment to getting this project done as soon 
as possible. Just as the VA must keep Fitzsimons at the top of its 
priority list, so too should Congress do its part by completing the 
authorization for the project.
  I look forward to the day when our veterans can enjoy the benefits of 
a new state-of-the-art facility at Fitzsimons. They have more than 
earned the high quality care they will receive there, and I urge this 
body to keep the project on track by passing this bill as soon as 
possible.
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