WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/25/08) - The Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in Tomah will receive $4.425 million from the 2008 VA Appropriations bill to complete a renovation of their facility. Democratic Congressional Representative Ron Kind of LaCrosse says the funding was made possible by the boost given to the Veterans Administration by the Democratic Congress, who this year provided the largest increase to the VA in its 77-year history with an allocation of $3.8 billion above what President Bush had requested.

“We made an historic commitment to our veterans this year so we could take everything up a level – from the care we provide to returning veterans, to our medical facilities, disability claims processing, and much more,” Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District Representative Ron Kind said.

“I am so pleased that the veterans being cared for at Tomah will directly benefit from the additional funding through this project, and I am committed to continuing to
ensure that the resources are available to provide our veterans with the quality care they deserve and have earned,” the LaCrosse Wisconsin U.S. Congressional Representative said.

When the Democratic Congress appropriated an additional $3.8 billion above the President’s request, the Veterans Administration was able to essentially double their budget for “minor construction projects,” advancing many that were not slated to go forward until a later date.

During years of under-funding, hundreds of improvement projects at VA facilities across the country became backlogged, and the additional funding this year will move many of them forward.

At the Tomah VA, the additional $4.425 million will be used to renovate the second floor to accommodate 26 beds for their psychiatric care facility.

The decision to fund this project was made through a competitive process called Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES).

This funding boost from the United States Congress Allows the Tomah VA project to Go Forward Ahead of Schedule.