Memo regarding Congresswoman Berkley's timeline on the VA medical complex, September 29, 2004 (4 pages)

MEMO To: Richard From: Shannon RE: Congresswoman Berkley's Timeline on the VA Medical Complex Date: September 29, 2004 April 2, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley meets with VASNHS Director John Hempel and tours the Addeliar Del Guy Ambulatory clinic. April 11, 2002-Susan Edgerton, Veterans Committee Democratic Health Staff Director, briefs Congresswoman Berkley on funding for the Las Vegas Ambulatory Care Clinic. April 23, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley sent a letter to Secretary Principi informing him that there is a great demand for a full-service veterans hospital in Las Vegas, including hospital services, an outpatient clinic, and a long-term care facility. April 24, 2002-At a VA Committee hearing on the Veterans' Major Medical Facilities Construction Act, Congresswoman Berkley alerts the Committee that the ambulatory care clinic in Las Vegas sustained severe structural damage. She states that she believes this is an ideal opportunity to reevaluate the veterans health care facilities that exist in Southern Nevada and that a full-service VA hospital is the only answer to meet the needs of Southern Nevada veterans. May 23, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley meets with Secretary Principi and Under Secretary Roswell to discuss the Congresswoman's proposal for a new veterans hospital. June 11, 2002-At a Veterans Committee hearing, the VA appeals to the Committee to authorize a lease for the Las Vegas clinic rather than a construction project. Congresswoman joins the Committee in approving the legislation due to VA assurances that they will utilize a new process for supervision the construction of buildings to be leased.. Robert Neary, Associate Chief Facilities Management Officer for Service Delivery, testified at the hearing that the VA revamped its oversight for lease back projects. The VA has instituted a peer review process for lease planning activities and has strengthened on site supervision. August 1, 2002-John Hempel hosts the Congresswoman for lunch in his office to discuss the veterans clinic. October 4, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley meets with John Hempel to discuss the status of the veterans clinic. October 9, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley meets with Secretary Principi regarding the long term overview for hospitals. October 10, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley introduces H.R. 5610 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to construct a comprehensive veterans medical center in southern Nevada that would include a full service hospital, an outpatient clinic, and a long-term care nursing home facility. October 16, 2002-Congresswoman hosts meeting with Principi, Goodman, and Under Secretary Mansfield in Washington, DC to advocate for a health care campus for veterans, including a replacement clinic, full service hospital and long-term care facility. November 21, 2002-Congresswoman brings Secretary Principi to host a town hall meeting to discuss how the VA will meet healthcare needs of veterans despite the closing of the clinic. Congresswoman Berkley and Secretary Principi also tour the 61 Acre site, which was a proposed site by the City of Las Vegas. November 21, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley hosts a Veterans Advisory Group lunch with commanders and leaders of local veterans organizations and Secretary Principi. November 21, 2002-Congresswoman Berkley, Secretary Principi, John Hempel, Mayor Oscar Goodman, and Ken Clark attend a panel discussion town hall meeting in Las Vegas. April 15, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley's staff met with Under Secretary for Health Robert Roswell regarding the VA clinic. May 2, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley wrote Secretary Principi requesting the VA provide specific details regarding the construction of the clinic and the data used to determine the size of the clinic and scope of services that will be provided to southern Nevada veterans. May 8, 2003-During a veterans committee hearing on elimination waste fraud and abuse from the VA, Congresswoman calls on the VA to ensure on site supervision to prevent another structurally unsound building from being constructed. She also advocates that a long term care facility is needed, as well as a full service hospital to meet the needs of Las Vegas veterans. May 20, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley invited Susan Edgerton, VA Committee Democratic Staff Director for Health, and John Bradley, Majority Staff Director for Health, to visit Las Vegas to assess the health care needs of Las Vegas veterans in light of the pending closure of the Addelier Del Guy Ambulatory Clinic. While visiting Las Vegas, Susan and John visited the ambulatory care clinic, four of the temporary health care clinics, and the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital. May 22, 2003-In a VA committee hearing on long-term care, the Congresswoman advocates to the VA that a long-term facility needs to be built in Las Vegas. July 3, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley speaks with Secretary Principi and is told that the clinic would be placed on hold while the VA developed plans for a medical center. June 5, 2003-Congresswoman introduces legislation, H.R. 2349, with Ranking Member Lane Evans, to fund the construction of a new multi-specialty clinic in Las Vegas. June 11, 2003-The Congresswoman and Dr. Roswell have a conference call in which Dr. Roswell assures the Congresswoman that the new multi-specialty clinic is on track to be completed in May, 2006. July 9, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley and Secretary Principi have a conference call to clarify the veterans clinic lease option. July 22, 2003-The Nevada Delegation meets with Secretary Principi to be briefed on the Las Vegas veterans clinic. July 28, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley writes to Secretary Principi to strongly encourage that the VA commit to the development of a full-service hospital and a long-term care facility, in addition to the new ambulatory care center. July 29, 2003-Senator Reid and Congresswoman Berkley have a conference call regarding the Las Vegas VA hospital. July 31, 2003-Senator Reid, Congresswoman Berkley, and Secretary Principi have a conference call regarding the Las Vegas veterans clinic. September 10, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley introduces legislation, H.R. 3061, to authorize the construction of a health care facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of the CARES initiative. September 26, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley presents testimony at the Las Vegas Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Commission Hearing urging that the CARES plan include a new hospital, long-term care facility and outpatient clinic in Las Vegas. November 19, 2003-Congresswoman Berkley speaks on the House floor in support of the Veterans Health Care, Capital Asset, and Business Improvement Act, S. 1156, which authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide $25 million to carry out the advance planning of a full-scale VA medical complex in Las Vegas, Nevada as outlined through the draft CARES plan. January 8, 2004-Congresswoman Berkley meets with John Hempel for an update on the hospital and the VA. January 22, 2004?Congresswoman Berkley sent a letter to Secretary Principi asking that adequate funding is provided in the Department of Veterans Affairs FY 2005 budget for a full-service hospital, an outpatient clinic, and a comprehensive long-term care nursing home facility in Las Vegas, Nevada January 28, 2004-At a VA Committee Hearing, Congresswoman Berkley stresses the need for a VA long-term care facility in Las Vegas. Dr. Roswell assures Congresswoman Berkley that whether it is a stand-alone facility or a DOD/VA shared facility, the VA would have a full medical complex as proposed, during a VA Full Committee hearing on VA long term care policies. February 4, 2004?Secretary Principi assures Congresswoman Berkley that Las Vegas will get the VA full medical complex one way or another, during a VA Full Committee hearing on the President's FY 2005 VA budget. May 6, 2004-At a VA Committee legislative hearing, Congresswoman Berkley advocates for VA nursing recruitment and retention programs to ensure that when the new medical complex is built in Southern Nevada, the VA will be able to meet the increased need for nurses. May 7, 2004-Congresswoman Berkley joins Secretary Principi to announce in Las Vegas the final CARES Report, which includes the full medical complex in Las Vegas. June 8, 2004-Congresswoman Berkley sent a letter to Secretary Principi asking for the status and time frame for site determination, the land purchase or land transfer, and the building design for the new VA medical complex in Las Vegas. July 24, 2004-Dr. Roswell assures the Congresswoman during a VA Health Subcommittee hearing that the VA medical complex is on a very short time frame and that the Secretary has renewed his commitment to the project and has allocated $60 million for the design of the medical complex. September 23, 2004-Secretary Principi called Congresswoman Berkley regarding the upcoming site selection announcement. September 27, 2004-Congresswoman Berkley joins Secretary Principi to announce the site for the new VA medical complex.