VA boss remains firm on LV hospital plan

Suzanne Struglinski

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 | 10:57 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada's congressional delegation says Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi has made a verbal commitment to build a VA hospital, outpatient clinic and nursing home in Las Vegas.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said this morning that Principi gave him the verbal commitment in advance of the release Friday of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services report, which is expected to detail recommendations for new construction and expansion of VA projects.

Principi promised Ensign that, even if Las Vegas does not appear in the report, work on a full-service hospital, which would include outpatient clinics, and a nursing home in Las Vegas, would proceed.

"We've been anxiously awaiting the CARES report but that anxiety has now been removed because a new hospital is being built regardless," Ensign said. "All secondary options have been set aside so we can proceed with a new facility that will meet our veterans' needs."

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Principi told her last week that Las Vegas would get the facilities.

"I welcome this fantastic news and I am anxious to see a location selected and for ground to be broken on these badly needed health care facilities," she said this morning.

Local VA officials said they not confirm nor deny such a decision has been made.

"We won't know until they actually release it," VA regional spokesman Dave Martinez said.

Other members of the congressional delegation welcomed the news of a verbal commitment.

"Secretary Principi's commitment to Nevada's delegation is very encouraging," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "We have all worked hard to bring a VA hospital to Southern Nevada to provide the highest quality of care for our veterans.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., has been in touch with Principi about the hospitals, his spokeswoman, Amy Spanbauer, said.

"This is a good day for Nevada's veterans," she said, adding that though his office hadn't seen the final recommendations, Gibbons was pleased to see the plan moving forward.