Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Applauds VA’s Announcement to End EUL Process for St. Albans VA

June 23, 2011

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Applauds VA’s Announcement to End EUL Process for St. Albans VA

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Financial Services Committee released the following statement regarding tonight’s announcement:

“Tonight’s announcement by the Department of VA to stop the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) process is a big win for veterans in my congressional district and veterans across Metropolitan New York. The amendment that I introduced and that was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last week was developed in the best interest of veterans in my community. Veterans in the vicinity adamantly expressed the need for the construction of a full service hospital and their opposition to the leasing of veterans land to a private developer. This is why I called for immediate termination of the EUL as it did not include the veteran’s wishes.

“The decision by the VA to not move forward with the EUL process for the St. Albans VA will greatly benefit the nearly 400,000 veterans in the vicinity of my district. Ending the lease process will not affect the current health services at St. Albans VA, but instead allow the community and veterans to work with the VA to construct a full service hospital that will better meet the medical needs of those that it would service.

“I look forward to working with the Department of VA to continue to develop a plan that will meet the needs of New York veterans.”