[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 2022

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chair, I want to commend the members of the House 
Committee on Appropriations, specifically the members of the 
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related 
Agencies Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations bill for including robust 
funding for Major Projects Construction.
  This funding for the construction, alteration, extension, and 
improvement of any facilities within the jurisdiction or use of the 
Department of Veteran Affairs will help all VA hospitals expand access 
to health care to veterans. For example, the Lake Nona VA Medical 
Center located in my district has grown substantially since established 
in 2006. The Lake Nona VA Medical Center serves more than 110,000 
veterans in Central Florida and includes a 120-bed Community Living 
Center, two Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment 
Programs/Domiciliaries, located at both Lake Nona Campus and the Lake 
Baldwin Campus, one Health Care Center in Viera, two large multi-
specialty Satellite Outpatient Clinics in Orlando and Daytona Beach, 
and four Community-Based Outpatient Clinics located in Clermont, 
Kissimmee, Orange City, and Tavares.
  A facility expansion of the Lake Nona VA Medical Center would add at 
least additional twenty beds for inpatient mental health care and three 
additional floors for intensive and surgical rehabilitation. I am proud 
of the healthcare provided by Lake Nona VA Medical Center to veterans 
in the Central Florida. I believe Congress should continue to provide 
the resources necessary to allow for expansion and improvement of 
facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veteran Affairs 
and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to support 
this goal.

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