U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) this past week voted for a consolidated appropriations bill to fund the federal government for the coming year. The one-year bill includes $1.24 billion for major VA construction projects, a level that would be sufficient to begin construction on the long-awaited VA facility in French Camp serving Central Valley veterans.

In addition to supporting the bill to appropriate funding to French Camp construction, Reps. Denham and Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) sent two letters to advocate for the facility. The first, sent to VA Secretary McDonald, invites the Secretary himself to visit the proposed French Camp site. The second, sent to leaders of the Veterans Affairs committee, asks that the committee move to allocate the funds outlined in House- and Senate-passed spending bills in their project authorizations.

“Central Valley veterans have waited far too long for French Camp to be built while they continue traveling hours for routine medical appointments,” said Rep. Denham. “The funding bill is a major step forward after years of ongoing efforts to push the project to construction.”