Today, Colorado's entire Congressional Delegation proposed an independent naming commission for the new VA Medical Center being built at the former Fitzsimons military base in Aurora.
In a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, the delegation noted the naming committee should be chaired by the president of the United Veterans Committee of Colorado (UVC), and they suggested the committee members should include other veterans' service organizations, VA representatives, elected officials, the Colorado National Guard, and other community organizations and individuals involved in establishing the new medical center. The committee will be responsible for naming smaller wings and sections of the hospital as well, and will be convened as construction nears finality. The committee will accept public input and make recommendations to the Congressional delegation about the individuals honored.
The delegation states, "Because naming this medical center requires an act of Congress, we, the Colorado Congressional delegation, believe selecting the individual after whom the VA medical center will be named must be an open and fair process reflective of the nation he or she served. There are countless veterans deserving of this honor, as brave Coloradans have fought in every conflict since the Civil War."
The delegation proposes the following criteria to be evaluated for the naming of the hospital:
· Leadership and character;
· Combat experience;
· Military decorations;
· Civic engagement;
· Efforts to improve the lives of veterans; and
· Other criteria demonstrating the applicant’s worthiness.
Below and attached is the full text of the letter.
February 29, 2012
The Honorable Eric Shinseki
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20420
Dear Secretary Shinseki:
Although the completion of the new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center facility in Aurora, Colorado, is scheduled for 2015, many organizations and individuals involved in this project have already begun initial discussions related to the naming of this medical center and units therein. Currently, our foremost priority is to assist the VA and the construction team in building the medical center. However, with interested parties already discussing the naming possibilities, we want to formally express our intent to develop a process for the naming of the hospital which involves an independent committee.
Because naming this medical center requires an act of Congress, we, the Colorado Congressional delegation, believe selecting the individual after whom the VA medical center will be named must be an open and fair process reflective of the nation he or she served. There are countless veterans deserving of this honor, as brave Coloradans have fought in every conflict since the Civil War.
Therefore, it is our intent to convene an independent naming committee to select a veteran after whom we shall name the new VA medical center. We wish to have an application process detailing the military service and biography of each nominee. Veterans or their families should have the opportunity to publicly testify before the committee in support of their application. It is our hope the naming committee will select a veteran based on the following criteria:
· Leadership and character;
· Combat experience;
· Military decorations;
· Civic engagement;
· Efforts to improve the lives of veterans; and
· Other criteria demonstrating the applicant’s worthiness.
For its remarkable work coordinating local efforts to build the medical center, we believe the naming committee should be chaired by the president of the United Veterans Committee of Colorado (UVC). Further, we believe bestowing permanent recognition of the UVC at some unit in the hospital is warranted. Additional committee members will include other veterans service organizations, VA representatives, elected officials, the Colorado National Guard, community organizations and other individuals or groups whose efforts were critical to the establishment of the new medical center. Prior to the convention of the naming committee, the Colorado Congressional delegation will formally invite appropriate representatives from each of these stakeholders to participate.
It is our understanding the VA Office of General Counsel is currently reviewing statutory authority available to you related to the naming of wings, units, and other parts of a VA medical center. Pending the results of this research, we may also task the naming committee with the authority to bestow smaller units within the medical center for other individuals or organizations.
In years to come, as construction nears finality, we will convene the naming committee to begin deliberations, accept public input, and ultimately make recommendations to our federal delegation as to the individual, or individuals, for whom we shall bestow this honor.
In this undertaking, we will seek guidance and input from your administration. We look forward to continued support from your staff. Thank you for your ongoing assistance in this important matter.
