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Senate Moves To Strip VA Of Authority Over Aurora Hospital Construction

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - The U.S. Senate has tentatively approved legislation to strip the Veterans Affairs Department of the authority to manage large construction projects after massive cost overruns on a hospital in Aurora.

The Senate voted Tuesday to amend a defense bill to give the Army Corps of Engineers management power over VA construction projects costing more than $100 million.

The change is one of several Congress is demanding before approving enough money to complete a half-finished medical center in Aurora. The facility is expected to cost up to $1.73 billion, nearly three times last year's estimate.

Work has continued on the hospital under a series of temporary measures while Congress and the Obama administration try to agree on a longer-term deal to finish it. The VA has asked for another $625 million.

U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, praised the reform amendment in a statement released on Thursday. He introduced a bill earlier this year to transfer VA construction authority to the Army Corps on all projects over $10 million.

"As I've long said, the VA is not a construction entity and their terrible track record in managing major construction projects is proof that they should not be in the business," Coffman said in the statement. "I am very happy to see the U.S. Senate move legislation to get the VA out of managing major construction projects and will work to see this type of reform become law. Every dollar spent on VA mismanagement in construction is a dollar wasted that instead could be spent on veterans health care."

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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