March 18, 2009

Today, members of the Colorado Congressional delegation met with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, and discussed plans to move forward with building the new VA Medical Center at the Fitzsimons medical campus in Aurora.

After the meeting, the delegation released the following statement expressing support for Sec. Shinseki’s decision to move forward with constructing a stand-alone hospital at the Fitzsimons campus.

The delegation stated:

“By listening to the concerns of the Colorado Congressional delegation, our local veterans’ community and veterans’ service organizations, you have truly shown your dedication to our veterans and their families.

We thank you for your commitment to the men and women who have served our nation and we look forward to working with you to complete construction on Denver’s replacement hospital so our veterans can receive the best possible health care.”

The entire Colorado delegation has been supportive of building a stand alone replacement facility to fulfill the promise to provide the best possible medical care to the 700,000 veterans in this region

Details announced today include:

A new VA Medical Center to be built on the Fitzsimons medical campus in Aurora with a 200 total bed unit including a 30-bed spinal cord unit to serve veterans throughout the Rocky Mountain Region

Health Care Centers providing ambulatory care and same-day surgical services in Colorado Springs and Billings, MT

Eight new health care facilities in rural areas throughout the region.

Construction will begin within 60-90 days with expected opening in 2013.

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