Connecticut House Delegation Applauds Passage of Legislation to Authorize Lease of West Haven’s Errera Center

WASHINGTON, DC— The Connecticut delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives applauded today’s passage of the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013 by the House of Representatives. The bill authorizes funds to pay for leases at 27 major medical facilities nationwide, including the Errera Community Care Center in West Haven. It was passed by a vote of 346 to 1 and now moves on to the Senate for approval.

“This bipartisan legislation will help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) better serve the great men and women in Connecticut who sacrificed to serve our country. As we have seen with veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, our former service members have more complicated medical needs than ever before and having a facility close to home that provides mental health care and supports homeless veterans is crucial for their recoveries. We urge the Senate to pass the legislation quickly so it can be signed by the President and become law.”

The Errera Center in West Haven currently serves 7,812 veterans, supporting mental health patients and veterans vulnerable to homelessness. The legislation authorizes a maximum of $4,883,000 for the Errera Center’s lease. Under federal law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has to obtain congressional approval to pay for leases on VA medical facilities that are $1 million or over.