[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        VETERANS HEALTH CARE FACILITIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.R. 2646, as 
amended, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 
2011. I urge our colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, 
which would allow for new construction projects in five States and 
Puerto Rico and would extend several VA programs, including vital 
homeless programs.
  Last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, Public 
Law 112-10, Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing 
Appropriations Act, and provided an advanced appropriation of fiscal 
year 2012 funding for veterans' health care. Enacting H.R. 2646, as 
amended, would avoid interruptions in VA programs and would allow VA to 
use the full amount of funding provided through Public Law 112-10.
  VA has worked tirelessly to get veterans off the streets and into 
housing. Their efforts are commendable, but there is still work to be 
done. H.R. 2646, as amended, contains critical extensions to many of 
VA's programs to end homelessness among veterans. This bill would allow 
VA to continue to operate the drop-in resource centers that help 
connect homeless veterans to services; provide grants to transitional 
housing programs for the most vulnerable homeless veterans, such as the 
frail elderly, terminally ill, women with children, and seriously 
mentally ill; and continue its street outreach and emergency care 
services for homeless veterans. These programs are on the front line of 
VA's services for homeless veterans.
  One of the best ways to end veteran homelessness is to prevent it 
from happening. This bill would support VA's homelessness prevention 
and rapid rehousing programs by extending the Supportive Services for 
Veteran Families Program, a critical resource for stopping homelessness 
before it begins. H.R. 2646, as amended, also extends the Homeless 
Veterans' Reintegration Program, which helps homeless veterans find and 
maintain employment. Extending these programs will decrease the number 
of veterans who may become homeless in these tough economic times.
  VA has a long list of construction projects that have yet to be 
funded. H.R. 2646, as amended, would allow VA to make critical upgrades 
to its facilities and infrastructure to ensure that we can provide care 
to veterans in a safe environment. For instance, this bill would allow 
VA to begin a $51 million project to seismically strengthen the nursing 
tower and community living center at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare 
System in Seattle, WA. Built in 1985, this building does not meet the 
current seismic code for Washington State. Located in an area of high 
seismic activity, it is vital that this building be upgraded so that 
the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System can continue to deliver world-
class healthcare to veterans in a safe environment.
  We must allow VA to continue work on projects such as seismic 
corrections in San Juan, PR; construction of new Polytrauma and Blind 
Rehabilitation Centers in Palo Alto, CA; medical center improvements 
and cemetery expansion in St. Louis, MO; and additional parking 
facilities and nurse education opportunities to ongoing projects in 
Fayetteville, AR and Orlando, FL, respectively. Additionally, it would 
authorize VA to lease space for outpatient clinics in Columbus, GA; 
Fort Wayne, IN; Mobile, AL; Salem, OR; San Jose, CA; South Bend, IN; 
and Springfield, MO.
  This bill helps us honor the legacy of heroic veterans by dedicating 
VA medical facilities in their names. With the endorsement of every 
member of the Texas congressional delegation, the West Texas VA Health 
Center in Big Spring, TX, would be renamed in honor of George H. 
O'Brien, a hometown hero. With similar support from the Colorado 
Congressional delegation, the Telehealth Clinic in Craig, CO, would be 
renamed in honor of MAJ William Edward Adams.
  Our Nation's veterans have sacrificed much in their service to this 
country, we must make sure they receive the care and benefits they 
earned.

                          ____________________