May 28, 2015

Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Corrine Brown Statement at Orlando VA Medical Center Dedication

Washington D.C.- Ranking Member Corrine Brown made the following statement:

“Good morning!  I am Congresswoman Corrine Brown, the representative of Florida’s 5th congressional district and the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.  Like everyone in attendance today – I am just thrilled that this day has arrived, and we finally have a top notch VA hospital right here in Orlando!  After over two decades of working strenuously on this project, today is a day to celebrate for our area veterans! 

This 1.2 million-square-foot facility at Medical City in Lake Nona is expected to have more than 3,500 employees and serve as many as 115,000 veterans every year.  And these are veterans and family members who no longer will have to travel all the way to Jacksonville or Gainesville just to receive medical care.

This superb facility serves as a model VA hospital for the rest of the nation to replicate.  The Orlando VA Medical Center, located on a 65-acre campus, will have a large multispecialty outpatient clinic, 134-inpatient private beds, 120-community living center beds, a 60-bed domiciliary and administrative and support services.  Moreover, it will be co-located with the prestigious University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine, as well as the Burnham Institute, the University of Florida Academic and Research Center and Nemours Children’s Hospital in the Lake Nona area (the "Medical City").  There are also healing gardens between the parking garage and the buildings for patients and families, as well as a large dining area filled with palm trees, a pizza oven and a Starbucks café.

Beyond a doubt, this hospital is a win-win for everyone.  And today is a great day for the Central Florida community, Central Florida veterans, and for veterans from all over the nation who come to our area to retire.

I am reminded of the words of the first President of the United States, George Washington, which are worth repeating at this time:

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country.”