Letter to Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Affairs Omaha Hospital

Letter

DEAR SECRETARY SHINSEKI:

We respectfully ask for a personal meeting with you to discuss the current state of the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

We are pleased that Omaha is on the VA's construction list and as such will someday have a new facility built. However, as number 18 out of 20 on the VA's major construction projects list, the reality seems to indicate that there is a small chance a new facility will be built by the end of the decade. As the condition of the current facility continues to deteriorate and the new hospital's timeline continues to slide, veterans in the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will be placed at risk of not receiving the proper health care that they have come to know and deserve.

The situation with the Omaha VA hospital is dire. The management and staff are doing their best, but unforeseen circumstances have provided obstacles to ensuring our veterans receive quality care. For example, operating rooms were closed in March 2013 due to failing humidifiers. Though the situation is being addressed, we are concerned that the aging facility will only continue to face operational challenges and will continue to require significant maintenance in order to keep it functioning until a new facility can be built. Another major issue is the condition of the boilers, air conditioners, and emergency generators. Without replacement soon the Omaha VA Hospital could face major shutdowns for complex and costly replacements of this equipment.

The veterans of Nebraska and western Iowa, who rely on this declining facility, need to know that the VA has valid and viable plans in place to continue the excellent care they receive without avoidable interruptions or endangerment to their health and welfare. We ask that you meet with us to discuss these items so we, as the Nebraska delegation, can communicate to and alleviate the concerns of our veteran constituents.

Several questions we would like to discuss with you include:

How does the VA establish funding priorities for construction of new VA hospitals and whether or not the major construction list will be re-evaluated based on the current status of existing facilities?

When is Omaha's facility reasonably expected to begin physical construction?

What is the VA's plan to fund unexpected and required repairs to continue Omaha's operations until a new facility is completed?

What is preventing the VA from placing higher priority on seriously degrading facilities such as the Omaha VA hospital?

What are other possible solutions/options for a new hospital and is the VA open to exploring these possibilities?

Please let us know as soon as possible as to your availability to meet in June. Time is of the essence. Please ask your staff to coordinate with Katie Amacio, scheduler for Senator Johanns, at kathleen Xamacio@johannsÐ.senate.gov. Ms. Amacio will coordinate with the rest of the delegation.

We look forward to working with you to best serve our nation's cherished heroes, our veterans.

Sincerely,

Lee Terry,
Member of Congress

Adrian Smith,
Member of Congress,

Jeff Fortenberry,
Member of Congress,

Mike Johanns,
United States Senator,

Deb Fischer,
United States Senator.

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