7 News - Second Shutdown Looms for VA Hospital Construction Project in Aurora

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By Lance Hernandez

For the second time in five months, work may grind to a halt at the new VA Hospital in Aurora, because congressional leaders have been unable, or unwilling, to reach agreement on a short term funding increase, which would allow construction to continue.

The project is one billion dollars over budget.

Congress did approve a short-term increase during the last work stoppage, but that money is nearly exhausted, which means the project could shut down again as early as this weekend.

That specter doesn't sit well with U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (R-Aurora), a Marine Corps combat veteran.

"The half-built Aurora VA hospital stands as a testament to the failure of Washington, D.C. politics," Coffman said. "VA leadership ignored the problems for years and did nothing to stop the out-of-control construction costs for the replacement hospital."

When Congress told the VA that money to finish the project had to come out of its existing budget, VA leadership suggested scaling back or delaying expansion projects at other hospitals and eliminating some programs earmarked to help veterans. But some members of Congress don't want money taken from projects in their districts.

House Speaker John Boehner said "problems at the VA are so deep, it can't even build a hospital."

Coffman suggested that Boehner come up with his own plan to move the project forward.

"I'm greatly disappointed that the Speaker has not approved a short term increase in order to allow more time for negotiations and avoid a shutdown of the project," he said. "Right now, Congressional leadership and the VA need to make sure this hospital is completed in order to honor our obligations to our nation's veterans."

Coffman said he will continue to work with other members of Colorado's Congressional delegation to make sure the hospital is completed.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet said, "Shutting down this project should not be part of these discussions. We are all in agreement that the best option is to finish the hospital. Brinksmanship and political games only hurt our veterans, and shutting the project down only adds more unnecessary costs. That would be an absurd outcome."

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald called the delays and cost overruns that have plagued the Denver Replacement Medical Center "inexcusable."

"The Deputy and I have been discussing the pending deadline with Congress for months," he said. "The Congressional authorizing committees held a field hearing in Colorado on the issue. The Congressional representatives from Colorado have been actively engaged in the Senate and the House to find a solution."

McDonald added, "Despite all of this work, the Congressional leadership has not acted on reasonable offers. In fact, as late as Monday, I asked Congressional leadership to work with VA to find a way to continue construction and prevent this shutdown. Specifically, I asked that we increase authorization for the project an additional $200 million beyond the current cap of $800 million and that VA be allowed to repurpose and reallocate our FY 2015 funds.

I have provided multiple proposals to the Congressional authorizing committee as to how we can complete this campus for Veterans. The options were rejected and the result has been inaction."

McDonald said veterans deserve better than that.

"Congress has not proposed a counter plan," he said. "I am open to reviewing any proposal that would better serve the Veterans of Colorado and the American taxpayers. If Congressional leaders choose not to support VA's proposals, or choose to offer feasible solutions of their own, then they will be punishing Colorado Veterans today for past VA errors."

Coffman said, "Many members of Congress see this as a Colorado problem and it's not. The veterans that the replacement hospital will serve are the men and women who served our country in uniform and our nation has an obligation to them to provide them the health care benefits that they have earned through their military service."

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