Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) called on U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to reverse course in response to the VA’s notification that they will not proceed with Baton Rouge VA Outpatient Clinic expansion efforts due to “unexpected” cost escalations. Graves authored legislation to allow for the VA to expand Veteran care in the Capital Region in the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which was signed into law in 2022.

“This news is a betrayal of Veterans’ trust. Veterans and their families, like all Americans, are suffering from expensive groceries, utilities, and the general cost of living due to skyrocketing inflation caused by reckless government spending – which now delivers another punch to Capital Region Veterans who are denied the health care they deserve,” said Graves. “Years ago the Baton Rouge VA clinic was identified by the VA as one of the nation’s most urgently needed facility expansions. We worked for years to pass legislation to kickstart the urgent VA relocation process and get Veterans the care they’ve earned and deserve. In addition to feeling the pressures of surging inflation every single day, our communities’ Veterans are now – again – stuck waiting indefinitely for medical care equal to their bravery.”

Background:

• Graves worked directly with VA Secretaries under President Trump and President Biden, numerous VA and budget officials, the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Baton Rouge area Veterans to push for an expanded clinic. Graves also offered numerous amendments to spending and Veteran bills to focus attention on this priority, while constantly negotiating with congressional and administration officials to untangle the complexities of authorizing a new clinic.
• President Biden signed the PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022, which included Graves’ language to allow for the VA to consider new lease proposals in Baton Rouge.
• In September 2023, Graves sent a letter to Secretary McDonough expressing his concerns about the VA’s Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the Baton Rouge Outpatient Clinic lease, citing overly restrictive site selection criteria that could result in the VA missing out on potential cost savings. The VA responded two months later without addressing Graves’ questions, further verifying the legitimacy of his concerns today.