U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) is sponsoring a bill that authorizes $523 million in funding for a new veterans’ hospital at the former site of the Fitzsimons Army Medical Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.
“The passage of this bill will ensure that the VA hospital continues to be built,” Rep. Salazar said. “This medical facility will provide top-notch health care to our veterans who are the first to risk their lives for their country. Ensuring that our soldiers receive the benefits and services they were promised is part of keeping our promise to our troops.”
Salazar is the sponsor of H.R. 1323. The original cosponsor is U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-7), whose congressional district includes Aurora where the facility will be built. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Salazar has worked closely with Rep. Perlmutter to introduce this amendment and ensure its passage.
“This bill is another step toward fulfilling our promises to our veterans,” Perlmutter said. “The Fitzsimmons campus in Aurora will be the hub of health care in Colorado. In light of recent events at Walter Reed hospital, Rep. Salazar and I are committed to ensuring our veterans receive the highest quality medical care in this new state-of-the-art facility.”
The proposed 1.4 million-square foot hospital would join the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center as part of a redevelopment of the site of the former Fitzsimons Army Hospital.
The new facility is estimated to cost $621 million. U.S. Sens. Wayne Allard (R-Colo) and Ken Salazar (D-Colo) are sponsoring S. 472, a companion bill to H.R. 1323. Both senators worked successfully to authorize the initial $98 million in December, 2006.
