House approves funds for new Fort Riley hospital

The U.S. House approved a supplemental appropriations bill Thursday that includes $404 million for new medical facilities at Fort Riley.

Funding still must be approved by the Senate and signed by President Bush. The funding was part of a bill that also includes expansion of the GI Bill and extending unemployment benefits.

The bill was approved after the House rejected the president’s request for additional funds to fight the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The administration is vowing a veto of the bill absent the additional war funds.

Rep. Nancy Boyda, whose 2nd District includes Fort Riley, voted for the bill, as did fellow Kansas Democrat Dennis Moore. Kansas Republicans Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt voted against it.

Boyda said she expected final approval to come this summer.

“The fight isn’t over at all. We’ll have to keep pushing for this,” said Boyda, a Kansas Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

She added, “This is about respecting and honoring the sacrifices that the soldiers and their families make every day. No matter what Kansans feel about the war, they all want to take care of our soldiers and their veterans, that’s where everyone agrees.”

Fort Riley officials were still assessing the House action and what it will mean for construction. The bill also includes funds for new hospitals at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“Fort Riley is pleased with the news and we appreciate everyone’s efforts,” said spokeswoman Deb Skidmore.

A new hospital has been in the planning and discussion stages at Fort Riley in recent years to replace the current Irwin Army Community Hospital on post, which is more than 50 years old.

The bill provides $350 million for the new hospital and $50 million for a complex to treat soldiers recovering from war injuries.

Fort Riley leaders and Army health care officials have put an emphasis on expanding health care services as the base makes room for additional soldiers and families. The post is expected to have 18,600 soldiers stationed there in the next few years as the 1st Infantry Division completes it return from Germany.

Boyda said efforts by the division’s commander, Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin, and other military officials pushed the new hospital to the front of the line to satisfy needs of families and soldiers. She said building a new hospital and staffing it with a sufficient number of doctors will address what has become a growing problem of health care access.

“I knew there was a problem, but it was not until I heard constituent stories about seeing a doctor in a timely manner that brought it up to the alarm status,” Boyda said.