Colorado Delegation Urges VA Sec. Shinseki to support PTSD facility at New VA Medical Center

December 2, 2009

Leslie Oliver (Perlmutter): 303-810-6326

Jennifer Talhelm (Udall): 202-224-4334

Deirdre Murphy(Bennet): 202-228-5905

Kristofer Eisenla (DeGette): 202-225-4431

Eric Wortman (Salazar): 202-225-4761

Catherine Mortensen (Lamborn): 202-225-4422

Nat Sillin(Coffman): 202-225-7882

Ben Marter (Markey): 202.503.7888

Lara Cottingham (Polis): 202-225-5693

Today, the Colorado Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, urging his support for funding for a new PTSD residential treatment facility to be built at the new VA Medical Center (VAMC) located at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

After learning the new VAMC will not include a PTSD residential treatment facility due to downsizing requirements, the delegation highlighted the current PTSD residential treatment facility which treated more than 2000 veterans since 1992.

The delegation stated, “We urge you to support this request for funds to build a new PRRTP facility on the new Aurora Medical Center campus. The strain of multiple deployments on our armed services more than justifies the need for this facility to help these men and women better cope and reduce the symptoms affecting their mental health.”

The letter notes plans for the new PRRTP facility will dedicate five residential beds to female patients who currently must travel out-of-state for residential treatment.

The entire Colorado delegation is supportive of the new VA Medical Center being built on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The new VAMC will also include 200 total bed units with a 30-bed spinal cord unit to serve veterans throughout the Rocky Mountain Region.



Click here to read the letter.