Maine delegation urges timely construction of veterans' mental health facility at Togus
File photos / Courtesy of subjects
Members of Maine's congressional delegation are using the FCC to take action to protect 207 as Maine's only area code.
Maine's congressional delegation is pressing the Biden administration not to delay construction of a new veterans' mental health and substance use disorder facility at the Togus VA Medical Center near Augusta.
A letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough raises concerns about a possible delay to a planned 24-bed treatment center at Togus under new guidance from the Veterans Administration, and asks that the project be given expedited priority.
"The timely construction and completion of this facility is crucial for the mental health and well-being of Maine veterans," the delegation says in a three-page letter dated April 22.
It is signed by U.S. Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District, and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District; and U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Details of the estimated project cost were not immediately available.
The new facility was announced last August by the Veterans Administration after pressure from the Maine delegation, five months after making a similar argument in a letter to McDonough's predecessor.
The lawmakers noted at the time that 80% to 90% of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans who suffer from substance use disorder have also been diagnosed with related mental health problems.
In their latest letter, the delegation says the urgent need for the facility has continued to increase, writing: "Although COVID-19 has exacerbated mental health challenges nationwide, veterans suffering from stressors such as post-traumatic stress disorder are often uniquely impacted by the social distancing and isolation challenges associated with the pandemic."
The lawmakers also raise concerns about a changed timeline for building the new facility in response to new residential and treatment guidelines from the VA and the fact that funding for the project is not ensured for the 2023 fiscal year.
In the meantime, the delegation is requesting that the facility receive necessary funding in the 2022 fiscal year and expedited priority for VA contracting to provide treatment to Maine veterans as soon as possible.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments