Final funding amount for Louisville facility to be determined later this year



Washington, D.C. -- Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Saturday that the Senate approved the FY 2009 Continuing Resolution (CR), which contains language requested by McConnell directing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obligate as much as it can spend within fiscal year 2009 for construction of the Louisville VA hospital.



“As Americans, we can all agree that our veterans are a very special group of citizens to whom we are deeply indebted,” Senator McConnell said. “I remain forever grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families have made to keep our nation safe. It is important that the VA fully fund initial steps toward construction of the new facility which will help ensure that Kentucky’s heroes receive the quality health care they deserve,” McConnell said.



Earlier this year, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Senator McConnell’s request of $75 million to fund the development of the new facility, which was the maximum the VA could obligate for the project in FY ’09. The funding originally included in the Senate bill was expected to not only be used for land acquisition and site preparation, but also for design work which should help accelerate the construction process. The House of Representatives requested $45 million for the project in its bill. The Conference Report directs the VA to obligate as much as it can spend in its Fiscal Year 2009 budget toward its top construction projects and to report back to Congress within 60 days.



Following passage of the CR, Senator McConnell sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake urging the VA to fully fund construction efforts at the VA Hospital in Louisville for Fiscal Year 2009. In the letter, McConnell wrote, “Based on the needs at the VA facility as of earlier this year and based on the total amount secured in the legislation, I believe that the VA should plan to obligate the full $75 million for this project and I strongly urge you to accelerate your process in order to move this project forward as soon as possible. Only by providing the full amount of funding will the VA satisfy the intent of Congress and take the steps necessary to get this vital project moving forward.”



Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), the Ranking Member of the Military Construction/VA Appropriations subcommittee, praised Senator McConnell for his work on behalf of Kentucky’s veterans: “Senator McConnell continues to be a champion for Kentucky veterans and it is the result of his work that full funding for initial steps toward construction of the Louisville VA Hospital was included in the Senate bill earlier this year. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that this vital project moves forward and I trust that, when the report is finalized, the VA will provide generous funding for the project.”



The Continuing Resolution now goes to the President for his signature.



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