So, what golden nuggets does this bill hide within its lines? In the realm of generalities, the bill seeks to give the green light to several marquee medical facility projects for the fiscal year 2023. But it’s the details buried in this document that really tell us the tale.
Let’s say you’re a veteran living in Alameda, California. Look to the horizon, and you might notice some hammers swinging and dust flying. The bill authorizes a whopping $395 million for the construction of a community-based outpatient clinic and a national cemetery right in your backyard. These facilities can play a vital role in providing you with better access to healthcare and a dignified final resting place for those who served.
Now, imagine you’re an old soldier in Canandaigua, New York. You might find paths to better health opening up with the possibility of a community living center and the renovation of some domiciliary and outpatient facilities. These developments are to the merry tune of $506.4 million.
And the improvements just keep rolling! Veterans in El Paso, Texas, should prepare to welcome a new health care center with a budget of $700 million. The Fort Harrison, Montana veterans should feel the earth quiver as seismic upgrades and pecialty care improvements are on the horizon, for a manageable price of $88.6 million.
The Livermore campus in California is in line for a grand makeover too. With an investment not exceeding $490 million, it is pivoted for realignment and closure. Meanwhile, if you’re a veteran at the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, gear up for a fresh medical facility sprouting to the tune of just over $1 billion.
The cherry on top might be for those in Portland, Oregon. A copious $523 million will be injected into seismic retrofit and renovation, roadway and site improvements, construction of a new specialty care facility, demolition, and expansion of parking facilities. Traffic congestion, begone!
Now, where’s all the money for these ventures coming from? The bill allows up to $3.716 billion to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the fiscal year of 2023, or whenever funds are appropriated for the Construction, Major Projects account.
So where does this leave us? After making its grand entrance in the House of Representatives, the bill was promptly escorted to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for a good old-fashioned review and markup. Once cleared, it will go back to the House for a vote. If passed, then over to the Senate to repeat the process. After receiving the signature of approval from both chambers, it lands on the President’s desk for a final signature to make it the law of the land.
The crosshairs of this bill certainly rest squarely on the shoulders of the Veterans’ Department, but its much wider implication has a trickle-down effect that softly touches the life of every American. The community-based outpatient clinics and national cemeteries discussed within the confines of this legislation are not just buildings; they’re symbols of a debt we remember, owed to those who’ve served and continue to serve. In the grand debate of healthcare in America, H.R. 3895 reminds us that taking care of our veterans is a promise that we never forget.
This simple bill is a manifestation of an important principle: care for the brave who have cared for us. Undeniably, this all comes with a hefty price tag, but how do you put a price on a promise kept to those who’ve safeguarded our liberty? This straightforward yet potent piece of legislation is an affirmation of our commitment to our veterans, a commitment made manifest in stone, steel, and solid foundations.
