Joins House in Approving Veterans Bills, Including $136 Million for New Construction at Gainesville VA Hospita

Press Release

Joins House in Approving Veterans Bills, Including $136 Million for New Construction at Gainesville VA Hospital

"Every day we enjoy our freedoms we honor the legacy of America's veterans," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "As a veteran, I appreciate the hardship and sacrifice of military service, and I am proud to join in approving these bills for the benefit of America's veterans."

The House today approved several bills to assist veterans, including H.R. 5856, the VA Medical Facility Authorization Act. This measure authorizes funding for various VA construction projects, among them the new Patient Tower that Stearns has supported at the Gainesville VA Hospital to increase patient privacy. Explained Stearns, "This 250,000-square-foot tower will contain 231 patient beds with the ground floor housing specialty clinics."

In addition, the House approved H.R. 3819, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act, which requires the VA to reimburse enrolled veterans who receive emergency health care at non-VA hospitals until they are safely transferred to a VA hospital. Also approved was H.R. 5826, the VeteransÕ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, providing a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veteransÕ disability compensation. Added Stearns, "The COLA is equal to the COLA that will be provided under the Social Security Act, which is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, effective December 1, 2008."

Source