House Passes Bill That Would Block Private Development at Queens Vets Center

U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-Bayside, praised the passage of legislation that would prevent private development at a Queens veterans facility, where he had previously proposed the creation of a full-service hospital.

The House passed a measure yesterday that would block private development at the St. Albans Primary and Extended Care Center. The amendment was included as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriation bill.

Earlier this year, Ackerman called for the federal government to build a new full-service hospital at the Queens center on the grounds that the site would inadequately be able to serve the needs of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“All evidence suggests that returning veterans are going to require a greater significant increase in VA mental health services,” Ackerman said yesterday on the floor of the House.

The congressman said the VA originally planned to modernize 25 acres at the St. Albans facility for private development. The agency had based its decision on a 2003 report on veterans’ needs.

Ackerman said the report had been released at the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We have, unfortunately, seen tremendous increases in veterans homelessness, foreclosures, divorce, substance abuse, PTSD and suicides,” he said.

At the time of its release, the VA report projected a decrease in mental health services for veterans over a period of 20 years.

The St. Albans care center provides medical services to veterans from Queens and Long Island.

The bill will now go before the U.S. Senate.