Strategic Capital Investment Plan of Veterans Affairs

This part of the June 14, 2011 House Veterans Affairs Committee report that was submitted.  I hope that the SCIP program does come through for us.  But read careful what the report states.  If anyone knows or finds any information on SCIP please let us know.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

For FY 2012, the Administration requests a total of $1.271 billion for VA's four construction accounts: Major Construction ($590 million); Minor Construction ($550 million); State Extended Care Facility Construction Grants ($85 million); and State Cemetery Construction Grants ($46 million). The total resource request would, assuming amounts for FY 2011 are funded at the President's requested level, translate to a reduction of $478 million, or 37.6 percent. Further, consistent with the requirements of section 905 of Public Law 111-275, the Administration proposes to allocate $136 million in major construction funding derived from bid savings.

VA's new Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process is a 10-year plan designed to identify and prioritize specific capital investment options to meet service delivery gaps in the areas of safety, security, utilization, access, seismic protection, facility condition assessments, parking and energy. SCIP projects a 10-year resource need of between $53 and $65 billion.

VA's total capital request (including facility leases, equipment, and non recurring maintenance needs not covered under the four construction accounts named above) for FY 2012 is $2.876 billion. At the present rate, it would take 20 years to meet the minimum resource need identified in the SCIP 10-year plan. We are, therefore, concerned that the SCIP plan is unrealistic on its face and would like the opportunity to engage the Administration on the plan going forward. Given that the stated needs of the system are vast, we recommend providing resources above the President's request for major and minor construction totaling $168 million.

Senate Bill 396 Full Service Medical Center for South Texas

"Our service members should never have to come home from fighting a war only to fight to get the benefits and care that they deserve," said Senator Patty Murray when she was named to the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  She is considered one of the best friends that veterans have in Washington D.C.  She is about making sure that the Veterans Affairs meets its mandate of caring for our Veterans.

It seems like these words were meant and apply to the thousands of veterans of South Texas.  You could say it describes the multitude of problems faced by our servicemen and women encounter when they returned from War.  A prime example is the quest for a Veterans hospital for south Texas that started with WW II veterans. Since then and up until now veteran have been advocating for a full service Veterans Affairs Full Medical Service Center for the area's 110,000 veterans.  The nearest VA hospital is 250 miles away. 

Veterans in south Texas have been ignored by the VA, especially those that participated in the war theaters of Vietnam and Korea.  If any of our veterans have been abandoned it is those that fought in these two skirmishers.  And, south Texas is the home of many veterans of WW II, Korea, and Vietnam.  Older veterans that are now more than ever having problems obtaining their benefits from  the Veterans Affairs.  Many of these veterans resigned themselves from applying for benefits out of frustration of the many tactics used by VA to discouraged the very veterans that they are suppose to serve.  "The deny, deny until they die"  attitude of the VA applies here to the T.  Veterans are dying at an alarming rate, many will never enjoy those benefits.  President Lincoln is probably turning in his grave.

Senator Patty Murray, your constituents have a great representative for the state of Washington.  And as Chair of the Vet/Aff Comm. we hope that the rest of America enjoys your dedication to the veterans.  Please help us with SB 396.  It is our bill for our Senator allowed us to participate in the wording of the contents of the bill.  Simple and to the point.

To our veterans in south Texas, let us hope that Chairwoman remembers these very words when she hears of Senate Bill 396.  SB 396 is the furthest that south Texas veterans have advanced in their fight for a VA hospital.  Veterans have been fighting for a VA hospital since our servicemen returned from World War II.  Other war veterans followed suit.  And are still at it.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel.  Chairwoman Murray is a great position to help veterans of south Texas by allowing SB 396 to be placed on her agenda for discussion and a vote.  It would be great if Senator John Cornyn would be allowed to testify on behalf of his bill.