WPBN: The Delaware Senate Republican Caucus and Delaware’s Democratic congressional delegation are praising the Department of Veterans Affairs’ recent declaration that it will proceed with the formal competitive procurement process for a new medical center in Sussex County.
The current concept aims to build out or lease around 136,000 net usable square feet (NUSF), which would also contain hundreds of parking places. However, final specifics will be finalized after the procurement process is completed.
According to a news release from U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, there are 11,155 NUSF available for veterans’ benefits in Sussex County at the moment.
In addition to helping downstate veterans receive care closer to home by removing the need to drive to the Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Elsmere, the move would increase services offered at the Sussex County Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Roth Avenue.
“Ensuring that veterans have access to quality health care remains a top priority of mine. It’s why I’ve worked across the aisle in Congress to help secure the licensing approval of this new VA facility in Sussex County,” Rep. Blunt Rochester stated.
“One of the best ways we can honor our servicemembers is to make sure they are able to use the benefits they earned and deserve when they return home,” Sen. Carper, a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Navy stated. “I was proud to work alongside my colleagues to pass this historic expansion of health care services for veterans and bring those services closer to veterans throughout our region. This is an important step in our mission to better serve veterans.”
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The State Senate Republican Caucus thanked Senators Carper and Coons as well as Representative Blunt Rochester in a press statement for their leadership and support in advancing this significant initiative.
Vietnam combat veteran Senator Dave Lawson highlighted the facility’s transforming power for veterans in Sussex and lower Kent counties.
This statement comes after the lease process was approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee on November 20. The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure was recently urged to adopt the resolution providing the medical lease for the new facility by a bipartisan letter written by Representative Blunt Rochester.
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By boosting operational effectiveness, primary care space, and ongoing access to more mental health, specialist care, inpatient medicine, and ancillary services, the new Sussex County facility would also aim to enhance the entire experience of veterans. Veterans will now have more options throughout the region thanks to new facilities slated for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey.
An announcement outlining more than $630 million in lease or building options across nine additional locations—four in Texas, two in Florida, and one each in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey—included the Sussex County procurement process.
