WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard today hosted a briefing for the Colorado congressional delegation and their staffs provided by VA Secretary James Nicholson and his staff and CU Health Sciences Chancellor Jim Shore concerning the Proposed VA medical facility at the old Fitzsimons Army Medical site. Representative Bob Beauprez also attended the briefing.

“I would like to thank and applaud Secretary Nicholson and University of Colorado Chancellor Shore for their hard work with our delegation on the critically needed Veterans Administration Hospital at Fitzsimons,” said Salazar. “Their negotiations regarding the proposals surrounding the VA-Fitzsimons site are of paramount importance to the thousands of Colorado veterans in need of accessible quality care.”

“Secretary Nicholson has brought a much-needed, fresh perspective to this project, and has made it clear he is determined to get our Colorado veterans the highest quality, state-of-the-art health care they deserve,” Senator Allard said.

The purpose of this meeting was to update the members on where discussions are on moving the CU/VA Fitzsimons project forward. In the meeting, Secretary Nicholson and Chancellor Shore updated the delegation on various options, including one or more site configurations. It is too early to say that one plan has been settled upon and more discussions are needed including conversations with Aurora officials and the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority. Project costs and other legal considerations also remain factors in the discussions. No details were released because of ongoing discussions.

Senator Salazar said, “Today’s meeting was a promising and progressive step towards the goal of better health care for our nation’s heroes. I am cautiously optimistic that all parties involved will continue to put politics aside and bring people together to expedite the completion of this facility.”

“I am convinced after today’s briefing that the Veterans Administration and the University of Colorado will be able to reach their goal of developing the premier veterans’ health-care facility in the United States,” Senator Allard said.