Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2393) to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2393

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act''. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITY PROJECT OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a major medical facility project in fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri, that consists of the construction of a new bed tower, clinical building expansion, consolidated administrative building and warehouse, utility plant, and parking garages, in an amount not to exceed $1,762,668,000.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 or the year in which funds are appropriated for the Construction, Major Projects account, $1,762,668,000 for the project authorized in subsection (a).

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Mr. BOST. 2393.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2393, the Senate companion to my bill, H.R. 6710, the Fiscal Year 2025 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, offered by Senator Moran.

For veterans in southern Illinois, the St. Louis VA Medical Center is an essential part of the VA healthcare network.

S. 2393 authorizes up to $1.76 billion to modernize and expand the St. Louis VA, including new clinical space, a bed tower, and a dedicated mental health and substance abuse clinic.

Many of the veterans I represent travel there for care, and this bill would help ensure that the campus is prepared to meet the needs of veterans across the region for years to come.

This new clinical space would give care teams more room to serve patients, while the mental health and substance abuse clinic would strengthen access to important services for veterans and their families.

Campus infrastructure improvements, including parking, utilities, and site work will also help the St. Louis VA operate more efficiently as a regional medical center.

The bill also supports the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that makes high-quality care possible, from upgraded utilities and a central utility plant to improved parking, security entrances, water systems, administrative space, and service facilities.

These investments would expand capacity, support specialized care, and improve the overall experience for veterans, caregivers, providers, and staff.

I am proud to support this bill because it is a practical, forward- looking investment in the veterans who depend on the St. Louis VA. This will help modernize care, improve access, and better serve veterans in my district and veterans across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2393, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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