SAN DIEGO – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2020, which secures funding for seven major medical facility projects throughout the country, including one project at the San Diego Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center during fiscal year 2020.

Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) supported the measure which authorizes a total of $230,840,000 to expand the Spinal Cord Injury Inpatient Unit at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center building in La Jolla as well as a new, long-awaited parking garage at the same medical center.

Although approximately 230,000 veterans live in San Diego County, the current spinal cord inpatient unit, which serves both veterans and active duty military personnel from southern California, Arizona and Nevada, currently only has 30 beds available. These funds will increase capacity at the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, which serves around 700 veterans each year, and build a new parking structure for easier access around the facility and community living center for patients and visitors at the Center La Jolla.

“The Spinal Cord Injury Center at the La Jolla VA is a pre-eminent spinal cord care provider for the entire southwest; this expansion is needed to ensure our veterans and active duty men and women get the care they need for injuries often sustained in the line of duty,” Rep. Peters said. “I know that both our veterans and their caregivers have been waiting a long time for this new center and parking structure. These crucial funds will provide those who have served our country better care and a better patient experience.”

Rep. Peters also helped pass the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020, which directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children as of December 1, 2020.