Letter to Chairman Johnny Isakson and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Chairman Jeff Miller and Ranking Member Corrine Brown of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs - Call for Reconciliation of VA Construction Bills

Letter

Dear Chairmen Isakson and Miller, and Ranking Members Blumenthal and Brown:

The House and Senate have approved legislation -- H.R. 4590 and S. 2422 -- to authorize funding for numerous Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects throughout the Nation. Combined, these two measures would help to close access gaps for veterans' health care. Funding for many of these projects was already appropriated in the Fiscal 2016 Omnibus package, and we hope that an agreement can be reached as soon as possible to reconcile H.R. 4590 and S. 2422 so that our veterans can gain access to the care that they deserve.

The VA is currently challenged with a growing backlog of construction projects and antiquated infrastructure. The VA manages over 6,000 buildings and nearly 34,000 acres of land. Additionally, more than 4,000 critical infrastructure gaps remain, which is estimated to cost between $56 and $68 billion to close, including $10 billion in activation costs.

The VA provides world-class care to our nation's veterans, and we must make every effort to ensure they have access to facilities close to home. Funding project upgrades and new facilities will help in providing timely medical care and allowing veterans to be treated in state-of-the-art facilities. Our veterans deserve no less.

Again, we request that differences between H.R. 4590 and S. 2422 are reconciled promptly and brought before Congress for consideration. Thank you for your leadership and for your attention to this important issue.