Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner today welcomed the passage of a short-term bill to continue construction on the VA regional medical facility in Aurora. The bill gives Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs additional time to work on a long-term funding solution to complete the project.
“A shutdown would have been the worst outcome, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the cost of construction,” Bennet said. “We cannot continue to operate on short-term and last-minute agreements. The VA and Congress must take this time to develop a long-term plan to finish the hospital that includes accountability measures and funding that does not sacrifice the care of our veterans. The Colorado delegation has stood united in our effort to complete this hospital, and we will continue to work with the White House, the VA, and with Congressional and committee leadership to find a path forward.”
“Much hard work remains to be done to deliver the world-class medical facility that veterans deserve and were promised,” Gardner said. “The VA, working with Congress, must fulfill its obligation to find a viable path forward on this hospital and make sure those responsible for the delays and cost overruns are held accountable.”
# # #