AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, legislation he cosponsored to authorize the construction of new VA medical facilities to improve the quality of veterans’ health care, was signed into law:

“As the son of a veteran, I am committed to advocating for the interests of current and former service members who proudly served our nation and now call Texas home,” said Sen. Cornyn.“I am glad that this critical legislation to improve medical and mental health care for veterans has been signed into law and will fund much-needed VA construction projects in Texas, including a new health care center in El Paso and the expansion of existing facilities in Dallas.”

Background:

The Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act will authorize nearly $530 million in funding for the expansion of clinical space for mental health, additional parking facilities, and land acquisition in Dallas and close to $760 million for construction of a new health care center and utility plant in El Paso.

This legislation, which was led in the Senate by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), builds upon historic infrastructure investments in the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which Sen. Cornyn supported and was signed into law in 2022.