VA Officials Quizzed About Hospital Delays
Monday, August 13, 2012
By: Matthew Peddie

A panel led by the US House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing in Orlando Monday, demanding answers for ongoing delays to the construction of a new VA hospital. The contractor building the hospital blames poor communication for the delay.

The committee met at the University of Central Florida’s new medical school building at Lake Nona, next door to the shell of the VA hospital.

VA officials told the hearing the 618 million dollar building’s 65 per cent complete, and they believe it can be finished by late 2013.

Jim Gorrie, the chief executive of contractor Brasfield and Gorrie, says they're working toward the 2013 completion date, but it won't be easy.

“It will take a ton of effort,"  he said.

"The changes are still coming, so I can’t commit to something I don’t have, and the designs aren’t completely finished.” 

Gorrie says the work’s been slowed down by conflicting orders and lack of communication from the VA, but he says they are now working to create a new schedule to speed up the project.

The hearing also attracted sparring congressional Republicans John Mica and Sandy Adams who are battling in a heated GOP primary.