[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6185-S6186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PITTSBURGH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, today I have sought recognition to 
comment on legislation to increase the authorized spending level for 
the ongoing consolidation project at the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs, VA, Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
  In May 2004, then-VA Secretary Anthony Principi announced the final 
results of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services, CARES, 
plan, a nationwide effort to identify buildings and functions which do 
not merit continued operation and to create long-term budget 
efficiencies by getting rid of underutilized facilities while improving 
access to care. As a result of this process, the Highland Drive VA 
Medical Center, VAMC, in Pittsburgh was targeted for closure, and the 
facility's functions are to be consolidated within Pittsburgh's 
University Drive VAMC and H.J. Heinz VAMC. However, in order for this 
consolidation to move forward and for the VA to realize the desired 
savings, significant construction is necessary at the University Drive 
and Heinz campuses.
  Initial estimates placed the total cost for construction at these two 
facilities at $189.2 million. I introduced legislation which authorized 
construction at this level and have helped secure $102.5 million in 
appropriations towards this effort--$20 million in fiscal year 2004 and 
$82.5 million in fiscal year 2006. I have pushed for Congress to fully 
fund this project in order to avoid cost overruns and to help the VA 
realize long-term savings which can be used to better serve our 
Nation's veterans.
  Despite the Pittsburgh project being ahead of schedule and ready for 
additional funding, I was disappointed to see that the administration 
did not seek funding for any component of the Pittsburgh project in its 
fiscal year 2007 budget request. On February 28, 2006, Senator Rick 
Santorum and I wrote VA Secretary Jim Nicholson a letter seeking 
clarification on VA's future plans for funding the project. According 
to his May 8, 2006, response, ``Funding for construction of the mental 
health and research facilities at the University Drive VAMC and the 
ambulatory care center at the Heinz VAMC will be incorporated into VA's 
fiscal year 2008 budget request.'' The response also stated, ``. . . 
closure of the Highland Drive Division will not be accomplished until 
all construction is completed.'' I will ask that this letter be printed 
in the Record.
  However, I was disappointed to learn that the VA's fiscal year 2008 
Budget request indicates that the estimated total cost to complete 
these projects has risen dramatically to $248 million. Further, the VA 
has only requested $40 million for these projects in fiscal year 2008, 
which would leave $105.5 million remaining to be appropriated to 
complete construction. I believe Congress should fully fund this 
project now in order to avoid additional cost increases in the future.
  This bill simply raises the authorization to the level indicated by 
the VA necessary to complete these construction projects. I urge my 
colleagues to support this technical legislation, which is intended to 
allow the VA to realize the savings envisioned by the 2004 CARES 
process on an expedited basis, making more money available for the care 
of our Nation's veterans.
  I ask unanimous consent that the February 28, 2006, letter Senator 
Santorum and I wrote to Secretary Nicholson and the Secretary's May 8, 
2006 response be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                            The Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

                                          Washington, May 8, 2006.
     Hon. Arlen Specter,
      U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Specter: Thank you for your letter and 
     continued support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
     Pittsburgh Healthcare System Major Construction Project. I 
     regret the delay in this reply.
       VA planned to fund the consolidation of the Highland Drive 
     psychiatry, mental health, research, and administrative 
     functions within the University Drive and the H. John Heinz 
     VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Pittsburgh over a 3-year period 
     from 2004 through 2007. Planning for this project began in 
     2003. This preplanning led to $35 million being made 
     available in fiscal year (FY) 2005, one year ahead of the 
     initial schedule.
       This $35 million plus $20 million appropriated in FY 2004 
     supported design and construction of the 1,500 car parking 
     garage for the University Drive VAMC; demolition of vacant 
     structures at the Heinz VAMC; and master design services and 
     multiple renovation projects to immediately enhance care. 
     These projects are being completed on time and within budget. 
     In FY 2006, $50 million is being used for the construction of 
     the 98-bed residential living center, administration 
     building, and various infrastructure and support facilities 
     at the Heinz VAMC. These projects are also on time and within 
     budget.
       Funding for construction of the mental health, and research 
     facilities at the University Drive VAMC and the ambulatory 
     care center at the Heinz VAMC will be incorporated into VA's 
     FY 2008 budget request. The project can still be completed 
     with a marginal delay in schedule. As various buildings are 
     completed, services will be gradually relocated; however, 
     full closure of the Highland Drive Division will not be 
     accomplished until all construction is completed.
       Your assistance and support have been instrumental in 
     ensuring this project remains on schedule and fully funded. A 
     similar letter has been sent to Senator Rick Santorum, who 
     co-signed your inquiry.
           Sincerely yours,
     R. James Nicholson.
                                  ____



                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                Washington, DC, February 28, 2006.
     The Hon. R. James Nicholson,
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veterans 
         Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Nicholson: We write today with regard to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 
     budget, particularly with respect to funding levels to 
     support the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services 
     (CARES) recommendations.
       As you know, the recent VA CARES process closed the 
     Highland Drive VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Pittsburgh, 
     Pennsylvania. As a result, that facility's psychiatry, mental 
     health, research, and administrative functions are to be 
     consolidated within the University Drive VAMC and the H. John 
     Heinz VAMC in Pittsburgh. VA officials promised Congress that 
     there would be no termination of services at the Highland 
     Drive facility until construction of the new facilities is 
     completed and the transfer of patients from the Highland 
     Drive VAMC to the University Drive VAMC and the Heinz VAMC is 
     completed.
       Included in the VA Budget Request for FY 2007 is a request 
     for $457 million for the CARES program, which includes 
     funding for the continuation of specific medical facility 
     projects and the funding of new projects. Notably absent from 
     this request is funding for the continuation of the VA CARES 
     construction project within the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare 
     System. We are concerned that any delay of funding for this 
     crucial initiative will negatively impact the construction

[[Page S6186]]

     of the Ambulatory Care Center at the Heinz VAMC and the 
     Behavioral Health Pavilion at the University Drive VAMC.
       It is our understanding that the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare 
     System is currently progressing on schedule and within its 
     budget. Since the Highland Drive VAMC cannot close until the 
     construction on the other facilities is complete, we ask for 
     your clarification on the VA's future plans for construction 
     project funding for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
       Thank you for your attention to this inquiry.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Rick Santorum,
                                                    Arlen Specter,
     U.S. Senate.

                          ____________________