June 27, 2013

HVAC Explores VA Lease Scoring Stalemate

Washington, D.C.  – Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing on the capital investment options available to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in light of changes made by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on how the cost of major medical facility leases are scored. Due to COB’s scoring changes, the full costs of certain leases are now required to be accounted for up front.

“The implications of CBO’s scoring of VA medical facility lease authorizations are substantial and must be addressed to meet the care needs of our veterans,” said Ranking Member Rep. Mike Michaud (Maine-02). “This was an important hearing, and some ideas were proposed to address how we can best meet the infrastructure needs of the VA this year and in the years and decades to come. At the end of the day, we need to come to terms with what we are facing and ensure that the VA has the medical facilities to provide safe, effective, and quality health care to veterans. This must be our priority, and whatever is done to resolve this situation should be viewed with this goal in mind.”

Michaud’s full opening statement from today’s hearing can be found here.