Colorado Governor Ritter Applauds Decision To Build New Veterans Hospital

March 18, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter issued the following statement today applauding Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki's decision to move forward with a standalone veterans hospital at the Anschutz medical campus at Fitzsimons in Aurora:

"This is great news not just for the more than 400,000 military veterans who live in Colorado, but for the entire state. I applaud Secretary Shinseki's decision to move ahead with a standalone hospital so that we can begin to properly repay the debt we owe to Colorado's veterans. This will allow us to honor them and serve their needs in a state-of-the-art medical center.

"The First Lady and I visited the existing facility a few weeks ago and were more convinced than ever that a new facility is needed. The planned medical center also will create jobs and is another clear example of our commitment to doing all we can to provide the best health care to our veterans.

"I especially want to thank Secretary Shinseki for setting a clear direction for the VA hospital project, and I want to congratulate the United Veterans Committee and our current and former congressional delegation for their perseverance and persistence to make this a reality."

Source: Colorado Governor