of the launch gtutea Washington, 23? 21.1515 . January 15, 2009 General Eric Shinseki Secretary Nominee Department of Veterans? Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420 Dear General Shinseki: We wish to offer our congratulations on. your recent nomination to be the Secretary of Veterans? Affairs. We share your dedication to our nation?s veterans and their families. We look forward to working with you to help serve the men and women who dedicated themselves to our nation?s freedom. A major point of concern for members of Colorado?s Congressional delegation is the delay in the construction of a new Veterans Medical Center at the former Fitzsimons Army Base in Aurora, Colorado. The project has faced a long and drawn-out history. Despite being named a ?major construction? priority by the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) commission, after eight years and three Secretaries of Veterans? Affairs, the project remains at the starting line and is a source of signi?cant anxiety and apprehension amongst our veterans? community. We look to your leadership to see this important undertaking to its completion. - As you may be aware, Secretary Peake explored the ?hOSpital within a hospital? concept with the University of Colorado. There are serious concerns about this idea and, most importantly, the local veterans? service organizations are adamantly opposed to it. An additional concern with this alternative proposal to utilize a shared bed tower with the University of Colorado Medical Center is the continuing credit crunch in the bond market. If the VA proceeds with this alternative plan, and funding instruments are not available, signi?cant delays in the project could occur at the expense of our veterans. The current consensus is that the best way to proceed with this project is to continue the stand-alone hospital concept outlined by the Veterans Administration through the CARES commission. This plan will meet the needs of veterans throughout the Rocky Mountain West and will be in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the own comprehensive review and design process. The CARES plan explicitly envisioned a veterans-focused, stand?alone facility to provide-comprehensive in?patientand outpatient care for veterans. The CARES concept also includes a 30?bed, in-patient Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Center, which, according to the own guidance manual, meet the minimum requirements for a comprehensive SCI center. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Congress authorized $568,400,000 for the project of which $188,300,000 has already been appropriated. Approximately 40 acres of land and a new administrative of?ce building have been acquired for construction purposes. We acknowledge and understand overall cost?estimates for this project continue to outpace initial projections, and we stand committed to work with the VA and?other stakeholders to find approaches to lower?costs and increase ef?ciency in care to our veterans. More specifically,?we recognize alternative design concepts, modi?cations and other cost savings factors must be explored in an effort to reduce the current price tag. However, we also consider it unsuitable to compromise the project to the'point it can no longer function as a stand alone facility or be restricted to an insufficient number of in- patient SCI beds. Collectively, we wish to extend an invitation for you to join us for a tour of the proposed facility?s relocation site at your earliest convenience to see ?rsthand the potential this project has to live up to the promises our country made to the men and women who served our nation?s highest calling. We thank you for your commitment to our nation?s veterans and look forward to working with you. to begin construction on this important facility so we can deliver the best care possible to our veterans. Sincerely, UM Mark Udall United States Senator Ken Salazar United States Senator Aim alas- - at 7 rigs Diana DeGette Salazar Member of Congress Member of Congress Mikoffman Member of Congress Member of Congress