Funding will help make much-needed repairs and upgrades
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs has allocated $63.8 million in federal funding for construction and maintenance projects at several veterans affairs facilities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The funding is contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“I am pleased that Pennsylvania’s veterans’ facilities will benefit from the stimulus bill,” said Senator Specter. “The improvements to housing and medical facilities will have an immediate positive impact on the lives of our veterans.”
“I am happy that these recovery funds are being allocated so quickly for Pennsylvania’s veterans’ facilities,” Senator Casey said. “These funds will help provide Pennsylvania’s veterans with quality health care and housing.”
More information on the projects is available here.
Pennsylvania projects, by region, include:
Southeast
· $17.1 million for Southeastern Veterans' Center in Chester County for the construction of a 120-bed new long term health care facility in Spring City, replacing the ten substandard modular units currently on the premises. This project will provide appropriate housing for the veterans and will enable the Southeastern Veterans' Center to entirely vacate the substandard modular units, while reducing costly maintenance.
· $6.65 million for the Philadelphia VA Medical Center for maintenance and minor construction projects, including funds to renovate the emergency department, modernize the behavioral health clinic, and modernize the dental lab.
· $3.9 million for the Coatesville VA Medical Center to renovate the pharmacy, upgrade and replace the electrical distribution system, and upgrade boiler plant controls.
Northeast
· $315,000 for the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center to renovate the catheterization laboratory.
Central
· $9.2 million for the Lebanon VA Medical Center for the construction of new consolidated rehabilitation services, renovate the patient check-in and appointment area, install a medical chiller, and renovate bathrooms for American Disability Act compliance.
· $2.8 million for the Altoona VA Medical Center for upgrade and replace the electrical distribution system, upgrade and replace security systems, upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning deficiencies, renovate and modernize outpatient areas for American Disability Act compliance, and renovate dining facilities.
Southwest
· $11.5 million for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System to upgrade the emergency power distribution system, renovate the surgical intensive care unit, and replace the main plumbing system.
· $11.6 million for VA Butler Healthcare to upgrade and renovate the electrical distribution panels, replace boilers, improve site drainage, replace and upgrade the electrical distribution system, improve sterilization equipment, replace windows, assess the water tower renovation needs, and renovate for diagnostics.
Northwest
· $466,440 for the Erie VA Medical Center to correct boiler plant deficiencies.
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