Planning for new Las Vegas veterans hospital advances

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

A groundbreaking for a new VA hospital in Las Vegas could occur early next year, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Las Vegas, said at a hearing Thursday.

During a House Veterans Affairs Health subcommittee meeting, Berkley said she received word from VA Secretary Anthony Principi early Thursday on a proposed time frame for developing the hospital, outpatient clinic and long-term care facility in Southern Nevada.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is identifying a location and expects a decision on a site within the next few weeks, Berkley said.

Design work is expected to begin next month with the groundbreaking as early as next year, she said.

The new hospital will help serve a booming population of veterans in Southern Nevada.

Principi sent a written statement to the subcommittee indicating that $60 million in funds for design and purchase of the land have been set aside. Congress earlier approved $25 million for the Southern Nevada hospital.

No location for a VA medical complex has been selected in Las Vegas.

Principi said earlier that a site would be chosen within six months.

Berkley anticipates that once Congress approves the fiscal year 2005 appropriations, the VA will have more than $1 billion available to begin renovating and modernizing its health care system.

In the next six months the VA intends to make 28 design awards and a land purchase, Principi told the subcommittee.