West Los Angeles Va Campus Improvement Act of 2021

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 711, as amended, the West Los Angeles VA Campus Improvement Act.

In 2016, Congress gave the West Los Angeles VA campus the authority to carry out leases with third parties. These leases have the potential to create revenue for the VA. However, the funds generated by these leases could only be used for renovation and maintenance. This bill would change that.

It would require that any land use revenues received by the VA from a third party be credited to the medical facility's account. The funding in these accounts would be used to meet existing needs and new services for homeless veterans.

Revenues would now be available for the medical center to provide emergency shelter and supportive housing services for homeless or at- risk veterans and their families. These funds would be available without fiscal year limitations and further appropriations.

It makes sense that the medical center receives these funds and can use them to improve its campus and help homeless veterans.

I thank Congresswoman Brownley for her amendment at the markup which eliminated the mandatory score for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 711, as amended. I thank the gentleman and his staff for the hard work they have done on this bill to get it right. I appreciate it very much.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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