Washington, D.C. — Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva announces today that the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) will receive over $20 million in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (ARRA).

The funding will go to improving medical facilities and national cemeteries, provide grants to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and to remodel, modify or alter existing facilities to care for Veterans.

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) will receive over $2 million for maintenance issues such as installing fire sprinklers, renovation of buildings and implementation of conservation measures for the campus.

SAVAHCS will also receive $18 million for construction of a 180 bed unit for extended care facilities.

In addition, the VA will make a one-time payment of $250 dollars to eligible Veterans and survivors to mitigate the effects of the current economy. VA estimates $700 million in payments will be made, with payments beginning in June 2009.

To be eligible, VA beneficiaries must have received compensation, pension, dependency and indemnity compensation, or spina bifida benefits at any time between November 2008 and January 2009. VA will use its existing payment records to determine eligibility to the $250 payment.

“These critical funds make certain that the staffing and maintenance of our military medical treatment facilities meet high standards of care needed,” said Grijalva. “Our veterans and their families have tremendous needs and this is one step in ensuring that their healthcare remains a priority.”

SAVAHCS is located in Tucson, AZ and serves over 150,000 veterans located in eight counties in southern Arizona and one county in western New Mexico.

For more information, please visit http://www.va.gov/recovery.