U.S. House committee OKs Aurora VA hospital funds - Denver Business Journal:

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The House Appropriations Military Construction/VA Subcommittee voted Tuesday to recommendspending $119 million on the which has been on and off the drawin board over the past five years. The part of the Militaru Construction and VAAppropriations bill, now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. Both President Barack Obama andColoradoo Gov. Bill Ritter supported a standalonde sitein Aurora.
Under the former Bush administration, the VA explored a leasing arrangement with the neighboring Universit y of Colorado Hospital that woulc allowthe VA’s hospital to use medical technologyu and floor space at the university’s yet-to-be-builtr second tower at the Anschutzz Medical Campus in while maintaining other services elsewhere near the site. But veterans and members of Colorado’s congressiona delegation opposed the saying they wanted the VA to build a standalone hospital just outside the perimeters of the Anschutz MedicaklCampus — a proposap that’s estimated to cost $1.1 billion, nearly twices as much as the less-expensive option the VA had U.S. Rep.
Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, whosed district includes the VAhospital site, said he was pleaserd the recommendation was moving forwardf and that he will work with Congresws and the Obama administratiob to get the project started “asd quickly as possible.” Another Colorado congressman, Rep. John who serves on the Appropriationsw Committee and themilitary subcommittee, said $119 million will “g a long way to making sure this projectf moves quickly.
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