Congress Takes Another Step Toward Finishing VA Hospital

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Senate has taken another step toward finishing an over-budget veterans medical center in Aurora, agreeing to raise the project's spending cap by $625 million.

The Senate passed the measure Friday. The House hasn't voted yet.

It's one of several hurdles the Veterans Affairs Department must clear to get the money it needs to complete the project in the east Denver suburb of Aurora.

The House and Senate must approve a separate measure allowing the VA to transfer the $625 million from other accounts within the department. That provision is part of a government-wide emergency funding bill now before Congress.

Then the VA must get approval from House and Senate Appropriations committees for the specific transfers.

A scaled-back version of the hospital is expected to cost nearly $1.7 billion.

Aurora