HVAC to Examine Long Construction Delays and Huge Cost Overruns at Aurora Veterans Affairs Medical Center
WASHINGTON, D.C.— On Tuesday, April 22, 2014, U.S. Representative Mike Coffman, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, will chair an oversight field hearing titled, "Construction Conundrums: A Review of Continued Delays and Cost Overruns at the Replacement Aurora, Colorado VAMC." The hearing, which will also be attended by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller, will begin at 9:00 AM Mountain time at the Old Supreme Court Chambers, State Capitol Building, Room 200, 200 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80203.
The purpose of this hearing is to address continued problems with the construction of the replacement Aurora, Colo., VA Medical Center that have resulted in more than a year of delays and cost overruns of more than $470 million, according to the Government Accountability Office. The hearing will also address how VA's handling of the project has resulted in several lawsuits due to its failure to pay contractors.
VA's construction mismanagement problems are not limited to the Aurora VAMC. GAO has documented how construction projects in Aurora and other locations, including Las Vegas, New Orleans and Orlando, Fla., have been plagued by years long delays and cost overruns totaling nearly $1.5 billion. Despite these failures, VA has awarded more than $54,000 in bonuses to its construction chief Glenn Haggstrom. At a May 7, 2013, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing, Haggstrom could not explain what he did to earn the bonuses.
Coffman in November 2013 introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3593, the VA Construction Assistance Act of 2013, which aims to help improve the speed and efficiency of major VA construction projects. The bill would require a project manager from the Army Corps of Engineers – one of the few government entities with a successful construction track record – to oversee certainmajor VA construction projects.
The following event is open to the press:
WHO: Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations
WHAT: Field Hearing: "Construction Conundrums: A Review of Continued Delays and Cost Overruns at the Replacement Aurora, Colorado VAMC"
WHEN: 9:00 AM Mountain Time, Tuesday, April 22
WHERE: Old Supreme Court Chambers, State Capitol Building, Room 200, 200 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80203
Witness list
Panel 1
Ms. Lorelei St. James
Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Mr. Kirk Rosa
State Commander
Department of Colorado
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Mr. Ralph Bozella
Chairman, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission
The American Legion
Mr. Dave Davia
Executive Vice President & CEO
Colorado Association of Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors
Michael Gifford, MPA, IOM
President
Associated General Contractors of Colorado
Panel 2
Ms. Stella S. Fiotes
Executive Director
Office of Construction and Facilities Management
Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction
Department of Veterans Affairs
Accompanied by:
Mr. Richard L. Bond
Associate Executive Director, Office of Operations
Office of Construction and Facilities Management
Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction
Department of Veterans Affairs
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Sean Eagan
Life Member VFW NY Post 53
American Cold War Veterans, Inc.
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